Communication Training in Hearing Aid Users

NCT07798453 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: ONZ-2024-0234 (AM)
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 57
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The objective of the current research project is to investigate the effectiveness of communication training in first-time hearing aid users with mild to moderate hearing loss delivered in-person in groups or individually. In doing so, the project aims to strengthen evidence-based person-centered care for individuals with hearing loss and pave the path toward more holistic hearing healthcare. We hypothesize that participants receiving communication training will show improved hearing-related quality of life, communication strategies, and personal adjustment compared to controls. Moreover, group training is expected to yield greater benefits in communication strategies and adjustment than individual training, due to its interactive nature and peer support, leading to more positive evaluations in interviews. A pretest-posttest design will be used, with testing before and after the communication training sessions, and two experimental groups and a control group. The two experimental groups are the groups receiving in-person group and individual training. The control group does not receive the communication training nor an alternative. A mixed-method will be applied to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data include screening measures, audiological tests, and questionnaires, while the qualitative data consist of a semi-structured interview.

Conditions

Hearing Loss, Age-Related; Hearing Aids; Sensorineural Hearing Loss; Speech Intelligibility; Quality of Life Outcomes

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Hearing related quality of life questionnaire

  Higher scores mean a better outcome.

  Once during the baseline testing and once during the post testing (+/- 7 to 8 weeks after the baseline).

• International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids Questionnaire

  Higher scores mean a better outcome.

  Once during the baseline testing and once during the post testing (+/- 7 to 8 weeks after the baseline).

• Hearing Attitudes in Rehabilitation Questionnaire

  Higher scores mean a worse outcome.

  Once during the baseline testing and once during the post testing (+/- 7 to 8 weeks after the baseline).

• Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly Screening Questionnaire

  Higher scores mean a worse outcome.

  Once during the baseline testing and once during the post testing (+/- 7 to 8 weeks after the baseline).

• Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired Questionnaire

  Higher scores mean a better outcome.

  Once during the baseline testing and once during the post testing (+/- 7 to 8 weeks after the baseline).

• Interview about training

  This outcome measure will be assessed once: once during the post testing (+/- 7 to 8 weeks after the baseline).

Study Arms (3)

Control group

OTHER

The control group does not receive the communication training nor an alternative.

Behavioral: Cognitive screening; Behavioral: Audiological Assessment; Behavioral: Questionnaires; Behavioral: Communication training; Other: Interview

Group with individual communication training

EXPERIMENTAL

The individuals receive individual training.

Behavioral: Cognitive screening; Behavioral: Audiological Assessment; Behavioral: Questionnaires; Behavioral: Communication training; Other: Interview

Group with group communication training

EXPERIMENTAL

The individuals receive group training.

Behavioral: Cognitive screening; Behavioral: Audiological Assessment; Behavioral: Questionnaires; Behavioral: Communication training; Other: Interview

Interventions

Cognitive screening BEHAVIORAL

The Dutch Montreal Cognitive Assessment will be assessed.

Control group; Group with group communication training; Group with individual communication training

Audiological Assessment BEHAVIORAL

1. Tympanometry 2. Otoscopy 3. Pure-tone audiometry 4. Speech audiometry in quiet and in noise

Control group; Group with group communication training; Group with individual communication training

Questionnaires BEHAVIORAL

5 questionnaires are included (Dutch translation): 1. The hAVICOP questionnaire to assess the hearing-related quality of life for Auditory-Visual, Cognitive and Psychosocial functioning 2. The Revised Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (RHHI-A) 3. The Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired (CPHI) 4. The Hearing Attitudes in Rehabilitation Questionnaire (HARQ) 5. The International OutcomeInventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA)

Control group; Group with group communication training; Group with individual communication training

Communication training BEHAVIORAL

The participant will take part in two training sessions. Depending on the assigned group, this will take place individually or in a group setting. During the training, challenges commonly faced by people with hearing loss will be discussed, and strategies to communicate more effectively will be introduced.

Control group; Group with group communication training; Group with individual communication training

Interview OTHER

A semi-structured one-on-one interviews will be conducted. Participants in the group and individual training will be asked about the feasibility, usability, and effectiveness of the training they attended. Participants in the control group, who did not receive training, will be asked about their expectations regarding a communication training.

Control group; Group with group communication training; Group with individual communication training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 45 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Dutch speaking first-time hearing aid users between 45-80 years
• Individuals with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss
• Individuals with bilateral hearing aids (minimal 6 months)
• Individuals who are capable to give consent to participate in the study themselves

You may not qualify if:

• User of cochlear implants
• Participants who have previously received auditory, auditory-cognitive, or communication training
• Participants with a middle ear disorder
• Participants without age-appropriate cognition

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Ghent: lead
• Sonova AG: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Ghent University Hospital

Ghent, East-Flanders, 9000, Belgium

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Presbycusis; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural; Speech Intelligibility

Interventions

Mental Status and Dementia Tests; Surveys and Questionnaires; Interviews as Topic

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hearing Loss; Hearing Disorders; Ear Diseases; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Sensation Disorders; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Speech; Verbal Behavior; Communication; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neuropsychological Tests; Psychological Tests; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Data Collection; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Public Health; Environment and Public Health

Study Officials

• Hannah Keppler, Prof. dr.

  University Ghent

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 14, 2025
• First Posted: September 1, 2026
• Study Start: September 16, 2025
• Primary Completion: July 9, 2026
• Study Completion: July 9, 2026
• Last Updated: September 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Locations

BE (1)