Use of the TEN Test in children with mild/moderate hearing loss

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Characteristics of performing the TEN test in children with mild-moderate sensorineural hearing loss.

  • IRAS ID

    202842

  • Contact name

    Richard Baker

  • Contact email

    richard.baker@manchester.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    The University of Manchester

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 6 months, 0 days

  • Research summary

    This study aims to determine if the Threshold Equalising Noise (TEN) test can be used clinically for children with permanent hearing loss. The TEN test is a diagnostic test for cochlear dead regions; areas of damage to the inner hair cells or auditory nerve fibres resulting in a sound of particularly frequency not being detectable. Identification of a dead region provides information as to the function of the cochlea hair cells or auditory nerve fibres and may impact hearing aid management.

    Research into the TEN test has focused on its use in the adult population, but with evidence that dead regions are prevalent in the paediatric population the TEN test may be useful for such patients. The test was designed for use in adults and whilst the test has been used on children, factors that could influence their results have not been investigated. Such factors include children's poorer ability to detect a signal in noise than adults. Here the effects of age and hearing loss on performance of the TEN test will be considered. If the TEN test can determined to be useful in the clinical environment for paediatric patients it could be utilised to influence clinical management of hearing loss.

    Participants will be aged 8-16 years with mild-moderate sensorineural hearing loss. This is defined as an average hearing level between 20-60dBHL calculated from frequencies 0.5, 1, 2 and 4kHz. Participants will be excluded where the hearing loss is not due to cochlear function or there is intellectual disability. The study will be carried out within an NHS Paediatric Audiology department where participants will be invited to attend for a routine hearing review. This routine appointment will be extended by 30 minutes to allow time to gain consent and complete the TEN test.

  • REC name

    North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    16/NW/0738

  • Date of REC Opinion

    21 Oct 2016

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion