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SUMMARY:Designing the BEARS (Both Ears) Virtual Reality Training Package t
 o Improve Spatial Hearing in Young People with Bilateral Cochlear Implant 
 - Dr Deborah Vickers\, Clinical Neurosciences
DTSTART:20221011T150000Z
DTEND:20221011T160000Z
UID:TALK171602@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Dervila Glynn
DESCRIPTION:*Theme: Brains and Machines*\n\nDeborah Vickers\, SOUND Lab\, 
 Cambridge Hearing Group\, Clinical Neurosciences\n\nBackground: Older chil
 dren and teenagers with bilateral cochlear implants (CI) often do not fulf
 il their potential due to poor spatial hearing abilities\, which arise fro
 m their difficulties to fuse sounds from the two ears. This deficit jeopar
 dises speech and language development\, as well as education and social we
 ll-being. These listening challenges are worsened by the lack of protocols
  for fitting bilateral cochlear implants and of resources for spatial-hear
 ing training. A large body of research demonstrates that sound localisatio
 n can improve with training\, underpinned by plasticity-driven changes in 
 the auditory pathways for children and adults. Maximal benefit for general
 ising training to non-trained auditory skills is best achieved by using a 
 multi-modal (audio-visual) implementation and multi-domain training tasks 
 (localisation\, spatial speech-in-noise and spatial music). The goal of th
 is work was to develop\, using an action research protocol\, a package of 
 virtual-reality games (BEARS\, Both EARS) to train spatial hearing in teen
 agers with bilateral CI.  We followed the NIHR and MRC Framework on Comple
 x Interventions to Improve Health.  This work forms the first two years of
  an NIHR Programme Grant to develop the intervention in preparation for a 
 large scale clinical trial.\n\nMethod: We developed a logic model to under
 pin the development of BEARS that was based on feedback from patient group
 s.  To develop the virtual reality games and the measures for the clinical
  trial we utilised formalised cycles of patient feedback.  Patients experi
 enced a prototype of the BEARS games and provided feedback\, which was the
 n transformed into system requirements for further developments. This part
 icipatory design used the patient participants (N=10) as co-creators.  In 
 the later phases of this development the patients took the equipment home 
 and experienced that games/training programme at home before providing fee
 dback for inclusion in the development.\n\nResults: the main areas which w
 ere modified based on participatory feedback were the variety of immersive
  scenarios to cover a range of ages and interests\, the number of levels o
 f complexity to ensure small improvements were measured\, the feedback and
  reward schemes to ensure positive reinforcement\, and specific provision 
 for participants with balance issues\, who had difficulties when using hea
 d-mounted displays. The effectiveness of the finalised BEARS suite will be
  evaluated in a large-scale clinical trial.  We have added in additional l
 ogin options for other members of the family and based on patient feedback
  we have improved the accompanying reward schemes.\n\nConclusions: Through
  participatory design we have developed a training package (BEARS) for you
 ng people with bilateral cochlear implants.  The training games are approp
 riate for use by the study population and ultimately should lead to patien
 ts taking control of their own management and reducing the reliance upon o
 utpatient-based rehabilitation programmes.  Virtual reality training provi
 des a more relevant and engaging approach to rehabilitation for young peop
 le\n\n\nFor information on Deborah's current research\, please see here: h
 ttps://www.neuroscience.cam.ac.uk/directory/profile.php?dav1000\n\n\nRegis
 ter in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/
 tZckceGurTooGdNg8d9jcKgVmpxrB81IWEAB\n\nAfter registering\, you will recei
 ve a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
LOCATION:Register on Zoom - link in abstract
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