Active clinical trials for "Hearing Loss"

The purpose of this study is to investigate if sound stimulation could improve pure-tone hearing threshold. In the late 1990s, researchers discovered that acoustic stimuli slow progressive sensorineural hearing loss and exposure to a moderately augmented acoustic environment can delay the loss of auditory function. In addition, prolonged exposure to an augmented acoustic environment could improve age-related auditory changes. These ameliorative effects were shown in several types of mouse strains, as long as the acoustic environment was provided prior to the occurrence of severe hearing loss. In addition to delaying progressive hearing loss, acoustic stimuli could also protect hearing ability against damage by traumatic noise. In particular, a method called forward sound conditioning (i.e., prior exposure to moderate levels of sound) has been shown to reduce noise-induced hearing impairment in a number of mammalian species, including humans. Interestingly, recent report has suggested that low-level sound conditioning also reduces free radical-induced damage to hair cells, increases antioxidant enzyme activity, and reduces Cox-2 expression in cochlea, and can enhance cochlear sensitivity. Specifically, increased cochlear sensitivity was observed when distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and compound action potentials (CAPs) were measured. In addition to forward sound conditioning, backward sound conditioning (i.e., the use of acoustic stimuli after exposure to a traumatic noise) has been shown to protect hearing ability against acoustic trauma and to prevent the cortical map reorganization induced by traumatic noise. Based on the results of animal studies, the investigators conducted a human study in 2007 and observed that sound stimulation could improve hearing ability. On average, the pure-tone hearing threshold decreased by 8.91 dB after sound stimulation for 2 weeks. In that study, however, the investigators observed only the hearing threshold changes by sound stimulation. To verify the previous ameliorative effect of sound stimulation, the investigators included a control period in this study.

The purpose of this multi-site randomized clinical study is to test a model treatment program in a VA Audiology clinic, to evaluate its efficacy, ease of implementation, and acceptability to audiologists.

In the late 1990s, researchers discovered that acoustic stimuli slow progressive sensorineural hearing loss and exposure to a moderately augmented acoustic environment can delay the loss of auditory function. In addition, prolonged exposure to an augmented acoustic environment could improve age-related auditory changes. These ameliorative effects were shown in several types of mouse strains, as long as the acoustic environment was provided prior to the occurrence of severe hearing loss. In addition to delaying progressive hearing loss, acoustic stimuli could also protect hearing ability against damage by traumatic noise. In particular, a method called forward sound conditioning (i.e., prior exposure to moderate levels of sound) has been shown to reduce noise-induced hearing impairment in a number of mammalian species, including humans. Interestingly, recent report has suggested that low-level sound conditioning also reduces free radical-induced damage to hair cells, increases antioxidant enzyme activity, and reduces Cox-2 expression in cochlea, and can enhance cochlear sensitivity. Specifically, increased cochlear sensitivity was observed when distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and compound action potentials (CAPs) were measured. In addition to forward sound conditioning, backward sound conditioning (i.e., the use of acoustic stimuli after exposure to a traumatic noise) has been shown to protect hearing ability against acoustic trauma and to prevent the cortical map reorganization induced by traumatic noise. In this study, the investigators examine the effect of sound stimulation on hearing ability in human subjects.

This trial aims to compare the efficacy of oral prednisone vs. methylprednisolone injected into the middle ear for the treatment of moderate-to-severe, sudden sensorineural hearing loss (inner ear hearing loss affecting one ear that occurs over less than 72 hours).

The primary objective of this work is to determine the effect noise has on the auditory system (both auditory health and performance) and also the degree to which the effect of pre-noise therapy such as Near Infrared (NIR) light can mitigate the effects of noise exposure.

There are currently no cognitive tests that have been validated as screening tools for people with dementia and comorbid hearing loss. This is particularly important given the high prevalence of hearing impairment in older adults presenting to memory services and the risk of misdiagnosis of dementia in this population as outlined above. Cognitive tests validated in hearing impaired populations will also be important as outcome tools for interventional research aiming to find out if treating hearing loss may reduce dementia risk in the longer term.

Aim 1: Establish the feasibility of screening for hearing loss in the ED Aim 2: Determine the acceptability of the screening procedure (among the ED population) Aim 3: Derive a preliminary estimate of the effect size of primary outcomes Aim 4: Identify the evidence that decision makers in Veteran Affair Medical Centers, ED and Audiology Services need to commit to this approach

This feasibility study evaluates whether children with unilateral, moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss experience an improvement in speech perception, hearing in noise, localization, and quality of life with a cochlear implant as compared to an unaided listening condition.

The purpose of this feasibility study is to evaluate whether implantation of one Nucleus L24 electrode array and one FDA approved standard-length device in the contralateral ear can provide useful binaural hearing in pediatric subjects who have bilateral severe to profound hearing loss, meeting the criteria for cochlear implantation. Unlike a conventional cochlear implant, the Nucleus L24 is expected to preserve the regions of the cochlear partition that are apical to the electrode, thus leaving them available for possible future advances in the field of otolaryngology and hearing devices, such as mammalian hair cell regeneration techniques or improved implantable hearing devices. Whether or not this group of children will be able to take advantage of future hair cell regeneration strategies is yet to be determined and will have to wait for future development. At this time there are no accurate imaging strategies available to identify preservation of the scala media. Ultra thin micro CT scanning is in development, however the level of radiation delivery to the subject is too great to be considered for clinical use. When imaging strategies become available to determine cellular structure of the inner ear, they will be applied to this group of subjects. The Nucleus L24 array stimulates the basal turn of the cochlea, in an attempt to preserve the middle and apical regions of the scala media.

After cochlear implantation, cochlear nerve is stimulated by giving a current over the electrodes placed in the cochlea and the current is measured by electrically evoked Compound Action Potential (ECAP).This ECAP is measured intra operatively, after 4 weeks( at switch on), after 3months and 6 months following cochlear implantation.