Bone conduction hearing device study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Preliminary measure of benefit of bone conduction hearing devices in children with single-sided conductive hearing loss.
IRAS ID
196538
Contact name
Kevin Munro
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 31 days
Research summary
A single-sided conductive hearing loss with a second normal-hearing ear is not uncommon. It may be due to a congenital malformation or middle ear infections, amongst others. Single-sided or unilateral conductive hearing loss (UCHL), for a long time was considered to have limited consequences as it was presumed that one normal hearing ear would allow appropriate development of speech and language. There is evidence to show this is no longer the case. Studies (Lieu, Karzon et al. 2013) (Lieu 2013) comparing children with single-sided conductive hearing loss with normal hearing siblings have shown that children with unilateral hearing loss (UHL) have worse verbal and language scores. Ead et al(Ead, Hale et al. 2013) in a pilot study identified that cognitive and language function was effected in children with UHL.
Management options in children with single-sided conductive hearing loss vary from no intervention, Contralateral Routing of Signal (CROS) aids, Bone Conduction hearing devices and Cochlear Implants. Each of these interventions has limitations and associated risks. The aim of our preliminary study is to quantify the benefit of Bone Conduction hearing devices in children with single-sided conductive hearing loss and characterise the group benefiting the most from these devices. The preliminary data obtained from this study will be used to strengthen a larger grant application into the benefits of bone conduction hearing devices.
The research questions are:
1.Is aided lateralisation better than unaided?
2.Is speech understanding in noise better aided versus unaided?
3.What is the quality of life for this group of children?Children aged 8-17 years who currently have a single-sided hearing loss, under the care of the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, will be eligible to take part. If they agree to participate they will attend for hearing tests and questionnaires at the University of Manchester. They will be required to attend for one appointment only.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SC/0145
Date of REC Opinion
10 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion