Evaluation of Cogmed Working Memory Training for Adult Hearing Aid Users (TEACH2)

Primary Outcome Measures:

• Change in Visual Letter Monitoring Task score [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2, 7, and (adaptive training group only) 31 weeks ]
  Untrained visual task of verbal working memory (memory updating)
  
  

Secondary Outcome Measures:

• Change in phonemic discrimination ability [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2, 7 and (adaptive training group only) 31 weeks ]
  Untrained 3I-3AFC oddball paradigm phonemic discrimination task with 11 phoneme contrast pairs
  
  
• Change in high/low context sentence intelligibility [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2, 7 and (adaptive training group only) 31 weeks ]
  Recently developed high/low context sentence in noise task (untrained)
  
  
• Change in performance on the Modified Coordinate Response Measure [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2, 7 and (adaptive training group only) 31 weeks ]
  Untrained 2-competing speaker speech perception task
  
  
• Change in Digit Span Backwards score [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2, 7 and (adaptive training group only) 31 weeks ]
  Trained validated digit recall (backwards) task
  
  
• Change in Test of Attention in Listening (TAIL) score [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2, 7 and (adaptive training group only) 31 weeks ]
  Recently developed auditory attention task (untrained)
  
  
• Change in score for the Test of Everyday Attention subtests 6 and 7 [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2, 7 and (adaptive training group only) 31 weeks ]
  Untrained validated measure of single and divided attention
  
  
• Change in Size Comparison score [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2, 7 and (adaptive training group only) 31 weeks ]
  Untrained measure of working memory and executive control of semantic confusion
  
  
• Change in dual task score (listening and memory) [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2, 7 and (adaptive training group only) 31 weeks ]
  Untrained dual task measure of word repetition and digit recall
  
  
• Change in self-reported hearing handicap on the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2, 7 and (adaptive training group only) 31 weeks ]
  Validated questionnaire to assess self-reported hearing handicap
  
  
• Change in scores on the Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile (GHABP) [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2, 7 and (adaptive training group only) 31 weeks ]
  Validated questionnaire to assess self-reported hearing disability, hearing handicap, and hearing aid use, benefit and satisfaction
  
  

One in ten people aged between 55-74 years have a significant hearing impairment in their better hearing ear (as defined by audiometric hearing thresholds). Yet, it is becoming increasingly clear that the challenges faced by older listeners cannot be explained by the audiogram. The ability for people with hearing loss to use cognition to support context allows for compensation of degraded auditory input, which in turn offers promise for new cognitive-based rehabilitative interventions. Working memory is known to be highly associated with language and recent evidence has shown significant generalisation of on-task learning from Cogmed working memory training to improvements in sentence-repetition skills of children with severe to profound hearing loss and use cochlear implants. This evidence offers support for further investigation into the potential benefits of working memory training to improve speech perception abilities in other hearing impaired populations. This study aims to assess whether Cogmed (adaptive) working memory training improves the listening abilities of adults with mild to moderate hearing loss as assessed using untrained measurers of cognition, speech perception and self-reported hearing ability, compared with an active control (Cogmed, non-adaptive) group. A 6 month follow-up will assess retention of any training-related improvements in outcomes for the adaptive training group.