The Acoustic Change ComplEx Predictive validaTion study: ACCEPT study (ACCEPT)

Hearing impairment is a major disability affecting communication and quality of life. Speech perception tests are essential to measure the functional use of hearing, and to determine the effectiveness of hearing aids and implants. However, these language-based tests are influenced by linguistic and neurocognitive skills. So far, there are no objective tests to accurately predict hearing abilities and not require active participation. This is especially troublesome for patients with insufficient language proficiency, children or cognitive impairment. The project team has developed a non-attentive and objective prediction model which correlates very well with speech perception in noise scores. This model uses electroencephalography to measure brain activity alterations caused by frequency changes. In this project we aim to validate this Acoustic Change Complex (ACC) prediction model in a large-scale external validation study. In this project we will first optimize the recording procedure for efficient clinical use, and then perform a diagnostic test accuracy study in patients with varying degrees of sensorineural hearing loss, to confirm the high predictive value of the ACC model and to assess its test-retest reliability. If this project proves that the ACC prediction model is an effective and reliable biomarker of speech perception, it will finally give audiologists and doctors a hearing evaluation tool, to be used in a population who needs their hearing the most as they are already struggling with their communication. These patients and the general population will directly benefit from this diagnostic advancement, as it can increase the accuracy of their hearing evaluations and improve access to adequate hearing rehabilitation.

Keywords:HEARING LOSS

Disciplines:Otology, Audiology, Speech, language and hearing sciences not elsewhere classified

Project type:Collaboration project