Virtual Reality Mobility Training System for Veterans With Vision Loss

NCT00333879 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: C4188-R
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 4
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This is a two-year proof-of-concept study to evaluate a new Virtual Reality (VR) "holographic" sound system for use as an audiological Orientation and Mobility (O\&M) training tool

Conditions

Blindness

Keywords

Rehabilitation; Sensory Aid

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Accuracy in Judging Direction of Traffic at Traffic Intersection

  Standing at an intersection subject indicates when traffic is moving left to right and right to left in front of him, versus traffic moving to and away on the street parallel to his path. Subject can respond in only two ways: 1) traffic is moving on the street in front of me, or 2) traffic is moving on the street beside me. Each trial lasts 5 minutes with a 2 minute and 30 second break between trials. Traffic stops and starts 5 times over the 5 minutes, each time moving in one of two randomly selected directions: 1) left and right in front of the subject, or 2) forward and back along the street beside the subject. The participant must correctly state the direction of traffic at least 4 out of five times for the equipment under test to be counted as efficacious for presenting accurate 3D sound information to the participant.

  4 trials over 30 minutes after 30 minutes of training

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Accuracy in Selecting Appropriate Time to Cross Street

  4 trials over 30 minutes after 30 minutes of training

Study Arms (1)

Virtual Sound System

OTHER

Efficacy of using a virtual sound system to simulate street crossing conditions.

Device: Virtual Sound System

Interventions

Virtual Sound System DEVICE

Virtual Sound System is tested for efficacy in its ability to realistically simulate Street Crossings sounds in a safe indoor environment. If efficacious, Blind students will be able to practice crossing streets in safety indoors.

Also known as: 3-D Sound Simulation System

Virtual Sound System

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Must have little or no light perception
• OMCT (Orientation-Memory Concentration Test) of 10 or less
• Must have been independently and regularly crossing busy intersections for at least 3 years
• Ambulatory and able to walk for at least 10 minutes at a time without resting
• Auditory function at 25 db HL

You may not qualify if:

• Imbalance between ears - HL difference of 20 db HL or more

Sponsors & Collaborators

• US Department of Veterans Affairs: lead

Study Sites (1)

Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur

Decatur, Georgia, 30033, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Blindness

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Vision Disorders; Sensation Disorders; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Eye Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Limitations and Caveats

Early termination leading to small numbers of subjects analyzed. Technical problems with Virtual Sound System. None of the first 4 Subjects could distinguish between sounds in front versus sounds beside them.

Results Point of Contact

• Title: David Ross
• Organization: Atlanta VA Rehab R&D Center

rosss0128@bellsouth.net

404-321-6111

Study Officials

• David A Ross, MSEE Med

  Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: FED
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 2, 2006
• First Posted: June 6, 2006
• Study Start: March 1, 2009
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2009
• Study Completion: April 1, 2009
• Last Updated: December 16, 2013
• Results First Posted: November 19, 2013

Record last verified: 2013-11

Locations

US (1)