Active clinical trials for "Hearing Loss"

The Work Related Questionnaire (WORQ) is a 59-item questionnaire of which each item represents an International Classification of Functioning and disability category. The WORQ was modified and reduced to include only questions relevant to Cochlear Implant (CI) users. In this analysis, a multicentre retrospective review of the revised WORQ in CI users was performed, with the revised WORQ as part of the questionnaires used in the regular clinical follow-up of CI users. Experienced CI users' responses on the questions will be evaluated to define the qualifiers for the revised WORQ.

Adults with CF regularly receive anti-infective therapy that can result in impaired hearing. Recent studies have identified that up to 50% of adults with CF have hearing loss with resulting significant impact on quality of life. At present, however, there is no national recommendation to screen for hearing loss within adult CF. Formal hearing tests are costly, require specialist staff and equipment and require further outpatient visits resulting in significant impact on health, social and financial resource. We propose to analyse over a 12 month period at two adult cystic fibrosis centres in London whether outpatient tablet based audiometry testing and web-based hearing apps are able to accurately screen for ototoxicity in adults with CF, and whether these methods of screening are acceptable. The results of this study will aim to streamline audiometry screening to improve detection rates, reduce cost of healthcare, enable equity in service delivery, and minimize disruption to the patient's social and work-life using smart technology.

Among risk factors of neurodevelopmental disorder is congenital hearing loss. However, congenital deafness is neither necessary nor sufficient for the occurrence of warning signs of neurodevelopmental disorder. The investigative team hypothesizes that the co-occurrence of these two clinical entities results from a common origin, within a syndromic diagnosis including other medical issues. These situations would therefore be very different from those of babies suffering from isolated sensorineural deafness. This study aims to identify which factors are statistically correlated with the association of congenital deafness and early symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorder, thanks to a partnership between a regional center for psychiatry of deaf children (Therapeutic Childhood and Deafness Unit of St Maurice Hospitals, UTES) and a pediatric audiophonology department (ENT department of the Necker-Enfants Malades hospital). This work is based on a cohort of 26 children under ten months of age diagnosed with severe to profound congenital sensorineural hearing loss. As part of their pre-implantation cochlear assessment, a consultation was filmed to precisely analyze the interactional and sensorimotor skills of these children (clinical observations, administration of a specific evaluation grid called Olliac Grid), after reviewing the films. The investigative team will then be able to grade the neurodevelopmental risk. In order to clarify what factors are linked with a neurodevelopmental risk, medical data concerning the child's family context, birth, and audiological profile will also be collected, and put in perspective with the assessed neurodevelopmental risk gradation.

The Nucleus 24 Auditory Brainstem Implant (ABI) is the only FDA approved device for restoration of meaningful hearing in Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) patients. This device has been discontinued, meaning that there is no commercially approved device currently available. The replacement model, the ABI541 (an unapproved device), is being investigated in ongoing clinical trials. A compassionate use arm of a clinical trial allows patients with NF2 to be implanted with this new ABI.

The ageing process is known to be accelerated in HIV-infected patients, compared to the general population. Normal age-related hearing loss (presbyacusia) is a frequent phenomenon, affecting more than 70% of people above 65 years. It is believed to be mostly the consequence of a mitochondrial damage caused by oxidative stress. Risk factors for accelerated age-related hearing loss are present in many HIV-infected patients : chronic inflammation, smoking, diabetes, etc. The global aim is to measure the prevalence of presbyacusia in a well controlled HIV positive population in France, and to compare it to HIV negative controls matched for age and sex. 90 HIV positive patients and 90 age- and sex- matched HIV negative controls will undergo a screening for presbyacusia (pure-tone, speech and evoked-response audiometry). We expect to find an increased prevalence of presbyacusia in HIV-infected patients, as compared to controls matched for age and sex.

The LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire is designed to assess the development of the auditory behavior in children during the first two (hearing) years. The questionnaire has been validated on children with normal hearing whose native language is German. A comparison was made between North American English speaking children with normal hearing and found that it was consistent with the German data. This study is to validate the questionnaire in children with cochlear implants.

This study will look at the feasibility and acceptability of testing newborn babies who are referred after their newborn hearing screen for an infection called congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV). Around 1 in every 100 to 200 babies is born with this virus, and although most remain well it causes 1 in 5 cases of childhood deafness. Knowing that a baby is infected shortly after birth could have significant benefit since a treatment is now available, but screening programs need to be feasible and acceptable. This study aims to evaluate targeted screening for cCMV by taking samples (saliva and urine) from babies who do not pass their newborn hearing screening. The investigators want to see if we can find a quick, reliable and parentally acceptable way to screen babies who fail their hearing test for this virus.

Hearing impairment is a common disorder that affects at least 7% of individuals in our countries. Even the causes of hearing impairment are numerous, genetic causes represent the main factor of sensorineural deafness. Among hereditary non-syndromic deafness autosomal-dominant inheritance is observed in about 10-20% of the cases. These forms of deafness are usually post-lingual and progressive. To date more than 41 chromosomal localisation and 21 genes associated to non syndromic dominant deafness have been described. It represents an extreme genetic heterogeneity making difficult the studies of these forms of hearing impairment. But, genetic diagnostic testing is crucial in these cases. Indeed, therapeutic research are in the way to prevent the progression of the disorder. The aim of this work is to establish the prevalence of the different genes involved in these forms of deafness.

This study will explore clinical and genetic aspects of Usher syndrome, an inherited disease causing deafness or impaired hearing, visual problems, and, in some cases, unsteadiness or balance problems. Patients with type 1 Usher syndrome usually are deaf from birth and have speech and balance problems. Patients with type 2 disease generally are hearing impaired but have no balance problems. Patients with type 3 disease have progressive hearing loss and balance problems. All patients develop retinitis pigmentosa, an eye disease that causes poor night vision and eventually, blindness. Patients of any age with Usher syndrome may be eligible for this study. Patients who have had eye and hearing evaluations are asked to send their medical records to the research team at the National Eye Institute (NEI) for review. They are also asked to have a blood sample drawn by a medical professional and sent to NEI for genetic analysis. Finally, they are interviewed about their family histories, particularly about other relative with eye disease. Patients who have not been evaluated previously have the following tests and procedures at NIH: Family medical history, especially regarding eye disease. A family tree is drawn. Blood draw for genetic studies of Usher syndrome. Eye examination to assess visual acuity and eye pressure, and to examine pupils, lens, retina, and eye movements. Electroretinogram (ERG) to test the function of visual cells. Wearing eye patches, the patient sits in a dark room for 30 minutes. Electrodes are taped to the forehead and the eye patches are removed. The surface of the eye is numbed with eye drops and contact lenses are placed on the eyes. The patient looks inside a hollow, dark globe and sees a series of light flashes. Then a light is turned on inside the globe and more flashes appear. The contact lenses sense small electrical signals generated by the retina when the light flashes. Fluorescein angiography to evaluate the eye's blood vessels. A yellow dye is injected into an arm vein and travels to the blood vessels in the eyes. Pictures of the retina are taken using a camera that flashes a blue light into the eye. The pictures show if any dye has leaked from the vessels into the retina, indicating possible blood vessel abnormality. Hearing tests to help determine the patient's type of Usher syndrome. Tests to evaluate hearing include examination of both ears with an otoscope, evaluation of the middle ear and inner ear, and hearing tests using earphones that deliver tones and words the subject listens and responds to. Vestibular testing for balance function. Balance testing involves three procedures: Videonystagmography: This test records eye movements with little cameras. First the patient follows the movements of some small lights. Next, while wearing goggles, the patient lies on an exam table and turns to the right and left. Lastly, a soft stream of air is blown into the patient's ears four times, once in each ear with cool air and once in each ear with warm air. Rotary chair test: With electrodes placed on the forehead, the patient sits in a rotary chair in a dark room. Several red lights appear on the wall of the room and the patient follows the lights as they move back and forth. Then the chair turns at several speeds, all slower than a merry-go-round. Vestibular evoked potential: Electrodes are placed behind the patient's ear and at the base of the neck. Seated in a reclining chair and wearing earphones, the patient hears a brief series of loud clicking sounds. When the sounds are on, the patient is asked to lift his or her head up a few inches from the chair. The electrodes record information from the muscles in the neck as the sounds enter the ear.

The purpose of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Registry (HBOTR) is to provide real world patient outcome and side effect information from electronic health records submitted to a specialty specific hyperbaric registry as part of "Stage 2 of Meaningful Use," including data provided to meet PQRS requirements via the registry's QCDR mission. Goals include understanding the value of HBOT among patients treated for a variety of conditions in relation to the frequency and severity of HBOT side effects. While randomized, controlled trials can establish the efficacy of treatments like HBOT, because they routinely exclude patients with co-morbid conditions common to those patients seen in usual clinical practice, the results of RCTs are usually non-generalizable. Real world data can be used to better understand the effectiveness of HBOT among typical patients, as well as the risks associated with treatment.