Effect of Computerized Training Programs for Attention and Perception for Patients with Hearing Aids

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Neuroscience
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Sensorineural hearing loss is prevalent in geriatric patients, often leading to hearing aid use.
• Geriatric patients frequently exhibit reluctance towards using hearing aids.
• Cognitive functions like attention and perception are crucial for effective hearing aid utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of computerized training therapies in enhancing attention and perception in hearing aid users.
• To assess changes in psychophysiological responses, specifically the P300 wave, following auditory training.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 100 hearing aid patients, with 60 receiving computerized training (passive, interactive, or active questioning) and 40 serving as a control group.
• Psychophysiological tests, including P300 wave latency and amplitude measurements, were conducted before and after the training intervention.
• The control group received hearing aid treatment without computerized training.

Main Results:

• A significant improvement in P300 wave measures was observed post-training (p < 0.001).
• Pre-training P300 wave presence was 12% in group 1 and 9.1% in groups 2 and 3.
• Post-training P300 wave presence increased to 80% in group 1 and 72.7% in groups 2 and 3.

Conclusions:

• Computer-supported training programs, when used with hearing aids, demonstrate a notable increase in P300 wave activity.
• This suggests that such training can effectively enhance the attention and perception abilities of individuals with hearing loss.
• The findings support the integration of digital training tools to improve outcomes for hearing aid users.