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Central Auditory Processing DisorderNCT06788184

Virtual Reality Game to Enhance Auditory Processing in Children With Cochlear Implants

A study testing Virtual Reality (VR) Game for Auditory Processing and Traditional Auditory Rehabilitation in people with Central Auditory Processing Disorder, run by Istanbul Aydın University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study aimed to design and evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual reality-based restaurant simulation game to improve central auditory processing skills in children with bilateral cochlear implants. The study aims to improve auditory attention, working memory, and speech perception in noise. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 10 to 18 years
Conditions the study is for
Central Auditory Processing Disorder
What is being tested?
Virtual Reality (VR) Game for Auditory Processing and Traditional Auditory Rehabilitation
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
24 participants
Where
1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
Study dates
1 Apr 2025to 15 Jun 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 10 to 18 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Being between 10 and 18 years old
  • Having bilateral cochlear implants
  • Having prelingual hearing loss before the age of 2 and having a cochlear implant
  • Having a minimum receptive and expressive language age of 7 on the Peabody Picture-Word Test
  • Having no additional condition that may cause dizziness or balance disorders
  • Having a score in the following ranges on the Child Hearing Performance Scale (CHAPS):
Show all 13Show fewer
  • Noise Environment item: -7 to -21
  • Multiple Stimuli item: -3 to -9
  • Auditory Memory item: -8 to -24
  • Auditory Attention Span item: -8 to -24
  • Having no diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder
  • Being a native Turkish speaker
  • Being willing to participate in the study and signing the informed consent form.

Who cannot join

  • Individuals younger than 10 or older than 18 years old.
  • Individuals using unilateral cochlear implants.
  • Individuals without prelingual hearing loss or who had a cochlear implant after the age of 2.
  • Individuals with a receptive and expressive language age of under 7 as a result of the Peabody Picture-Word Test.
  • Individuals with dizziness, balance disorders or neurodevelopmental problems.
  • According to the results of the Child Auditory Performance Scale (CHAPS):
Show all 12Show fewer
  • Those who scored under -7 or over -21 on the "Noise" subscale.
  • Those who scored under -3 or over -9 on the "Multiple Input" subscale.
  • Those who scored under -8 or over -24 on the "Auditory Memory" subscale.
  • Those who scored under -8 or over -24 on the "Auditory Attention Span" subscale.
  • Individuals whose native language is not Turkish.
  • Individuals who did not want to participate in the study and/or did not sign the informed consent form.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
  • Istanbul Aydın University

    Istanbul, Kucukcekmece, 34295

Other trials in Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Official title: Development and Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Virtual Reality Game Targeting Central Auditory Processing Skills in Children Using Cochlear Implants

This study aimed to design and evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual reality-based restaurant simulation game to improve central auditory processing skills in children with bilateral cochlear implants. The study aims to improve auditory attention, working memory, and speech perception in noise. Children with bilateral cochlear implants between the ages of 10 and 18 will participate in this study, which combines traditional rehabilitation methods with a virtual reality game. The "Hearing in Noise Test" (HINT) assessment tools will be used. The game aims to present interactive scenarios that simulate auditory difficulties encountered in daily life and to improve auditory processing skills. The usability of the game will be tested in the pilot phase. This project aims to bring an innovative approach to rehabilitation programs and to contribute to the social integration of children with hearing loss while increasing social awareness.

Read the detailed description

This study aims to develop and evaluate a virtual reality (VR) game designed to improve central auditory processing skills in children aged 10-18 years with bilateral cochlear implants. The project aims to test the effectiveness of an innovative VR platform as a complement to traditional auditory rehabilitation methods. It focuses on improving critical skills such as auditory attention in noise, working memory, auditory localization and speech perception.

Scope of the Study:

Participant Profile: Children aged 10-18 years with prelingual hearing loss who received bilateral cochlear implants before the age of 2. Participants will be selected according to the criteria of the Child Auditory Performance Scale (CHAPS) and a minimum age of 7 years for receptive and expressive language as a result of the Peabody Picture Word Test.

Methodology: The study will compare traditional auditory rehabilitation (control group) with VR-based rehabilitation (study group). The VR rehabilitation process will consist of weekly 30-minute sessions lasting a total of 4 weeks. The assessment tools will include the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT).

Scales and Forms to be Used in the Pilot Study: The following tools and forms will be used in the pilot phase to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness and usability of the game:

Demographic Information Forms:

Demographic information form for children using cochlear implants. Demographic information form for children with normal hearing. Game Observation Checklist: Used to systematically observe and document participants' interactions with the game.

Virtual Reality Game Test List: To evaluate specific tasks and performance results in the VR game.

System Usability Scale (SUS): Will be administered to parents to evaluate the usability of the VR system. Parents will provide insight into how their children experienced the game and their perceptions of the usability process.

Parent One-on-One Interview Form: To collect feedback from parents about the impact and effectiveness of the game. Child Game Evaluation Form: To collect direct feedback from children about their experiences with the VR game.

Participant One-on-One Interview Form: To document qualitative data from participants about their experiences and challenges.

The feedback received from 10 participants and their parents in the pilot phase will play a critical role in improving the game mechanics and ensuring the effectiveness of the system.

Innovative Aspects and Contributions: The innovative aspect of the study is the use of virtual reality technology in auditory rehabilitation. In the VR environment, participants will undertake tasks in a realistic restaurant simulation by adapting to increasing levels of difficulty to improve their auditory skills. The study aims to achieve improvements in auditory attention, working memory and speech perception in noise of the participants, exceeding the results of traditional methods.

It is expected that the results of this study will contribute to the development of new strategies for the rehabilitation of individuals with hearing loss and enable them to participate more effectively in daily life. In addition, the developed VR game will support the education and social integration of hearing impaired individuals while raising awareness in society. It is planned that the scientific findings of the study will be published in national and international journals and form the basis for the development of various rehabilitation programs.

Being tested
Virtual Reality (VR) Game for Auditory Processing, Traditional Auditory Rehabilitation
Keywords
Cochlear Implant, Auditory Processing, Virtual Reality, Auditory Attention, Working Memory
Medical subject headings
Language Development Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Virtual Reality (VR) Game for Auditory ProcessingDevice

    The Virtual Reality (VR) Game is a novel auditory rehabilitation tool designed to enhance central auditory processing skills in children with cochlear implants. This intervention features a restaurant simulation environment where participants perform auditory tasks such as identifying verbal orders, recognizing speech in noisy environments, and matching auditory cues to visual inputs.

    Dosage Form: Virtual reality sessions conducted through a VR headset (Oculus Meta Quest 3).

    Frequency: Once per week. Duration per Session: 30 minutes per session. Total Duration: Four weeks (4 sessions). Complexity Levels: Tasks increase in complexity over time, starting with simple auditory cues in quiet environments and progressing to more challenging scenarios involving background noise and multitasking.

    The VR game is specifically designed to replicate real-world auditory challenges in a controlled and engaging virtual environment, providing participants with tailored tasks to improve auditory atten

  • Traditional Auditory RehabilitationBehavioural

    Name: Traditional Auditory Rehabilitation

    Description:

    Participants will continue the standard auditory rehabilitation program they currently receive at their registered rehabilitation center and will focus on improving auditory processing skills. This program includes:

    Session Length: 30 minutes per session Frequency: Once a week Total Duration: 4 weeks (4 sessions total)

    Components:

    Improve speech understanding in noise

Study groups in NCT06788184
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Control Group (Traditional Auditory Rehabilitation Only)Active comparatorParticipants in the control group (15 bilateral cochlear implant users, aged 10-18 years) will receive traditional auditory rehabilitation sessions once a week for 30 minutes over a 4-week period. This group will not participate in the virtual reality intervention.
Receives: Behavioral: Traditional Auditory Rehabilitation
Experimental Group (Traditional Auditory Rehabilitation + VR Game)Active comparatorThis group will include 15 participants aged 10-18 years with bilateral cochlear implants. In addition to traditional auditory rehabilitation, participants will receive virtual reality (VR) game-based rehabilitation for 30 minutes once a week. The intervention will last for 4 weeks and aims to improve central auditory processing skills.
Receives: Device: Virtual Reality (VR) Game for Auditory Processing; Behavioral: Traditional Auditory Rehabilitation

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change from Baseline in Speech Recognition in Noise Using the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT)

    The HINT test is an adaptable test for measuring sentence recognition threshold, which evaluates the status and efficiency of hearing in noise using sentences from daily life. The aim of the HINT test is to evaluate the auditory capacity of the individual in noisy environments.

    Measured: The outcome will be assessed at Baseline (Week 0) and Post-Intervention (Week 4), with improvements in scores reflecting better speech perception in noise.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted23 Jan 2025
  2. Study start1 Apr 2025
  3. Primary completion1 Jun 2025
  4. Study completion15 Jun 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
This interventional study adopts a parallel group design, comparing the effects of a virtual reality (VR)-based auditory rehabilitation program with traditional auditory rehabilitation methods in children aged 10-18 years who use bilateral cochlear implants. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: Intervention Group: Participants in this group will engage in a virtual reality game designed to enhance central auditory processing skills. The VR game includes tasks focusing on auditory attention, working memory, auditory localization, and speech perception in noise. The intervention will consist of weekly 30-minute sessions over a 4-week period. Control Group: Participants in this group will undergo traditional auditory rehabilitation, following established methods aimed at improving similar auditory processing skills. The study model ensures a structured comparison of the effectiveness of the VR intervention against conventional methods.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
24 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06788184
Sponsor's protocol ID
37/2024
Other IDs
Scientific Research Projects
Status last verified
Jul 2025
First submitted
12 Jan 2025
Last updated
30 Jul 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: The individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of the participants. As the study involves a vulnerable group of children with cochlear implants, maintaining their personal data's integrity is of utmost importance. Additionally, the ethical committee's guidelines and institutional policies require strict data protection to prevent potential misuse. Therefore, the IPD will remain confidential and will not be made publicly available.

Publications

  • Tabak SN, Meral Cetinkaya M, Irali AE. Development and evaluation of a virtual reality game targeting Central auditory processing skills in children using cochlear implants: a randomized controlled trial. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2026 Jul;21(5):2211-2228. doi: 10.1080/17483107.2026.2623465. Epub 2026 Feb 4.

    PubMed 41636301

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Virtual Reality (VR) Game for Auditory Processing and Traditional Auditory Rehabilitation in people with Central Auditory Processing Disorder, run by Istanbul Aydın University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 13 inclusion and 12 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change from Baseline in Speech Recognition in Noise Using the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) (time frame: The outcome will be assessed at Baseline (Week 0) and Post-Intervention (Week 4), with improvements in scores reflecting better speech perception in noise.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06788184, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Jul 2025.

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