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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02662192

Fitness, Hearing and Quality of Life in Older Adults With Hearing Loss. Walk, Talk and Listen for Your Life

This study examines the effect of an exercise and health education/auditory rehabilitation and socialization intervention on functional fitness, hearing handicap and psychosocial distress measures in older adults with hearing loss.

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Key information

Conditions

Hearing Loss, Functional Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Ear Diseases Hearing Disorders Hearing Loss Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Sensation Disorders Signs and Symptoms

Age range

65 year–90 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Southern Medical Program, University of British Columbia Okanagan, 321 Reichwald Health Sciences Center, 1088 Discovery Ave.

Kelowna, British Columbia, V1Z-4C6, Canada

About this study

Hearing loss is associated with functional fitness declines and increased risk for isolation, dementia, depression, falls, hospitalization and premature mortality. No studies have determined the effect of an exercise intervention on these measures in older adults with hearing loss.

After baseline assessment of function fitness and several psychosocial measures, 60 older adults with hearing loss will be randomized into a 10 week exercise, health education, socialization and auditory rehabilitation program or auditory rehabilitation alone. The exercise program consists of 3/4 of an hour strengthening and resistance training followed by 30 minutes of group walking. The educational session content is determined by participants and is interactive and may include such topics as wills and probate, diabetes treatment, healthy exercise etc. The 3/4 of an hour auditory rehabilitation sessions are modified from an online program and will include interactive sessions on education about hearing and hearing devices/technologies, psychosocial support and enhancing communication skills.

At the end of the 10 week intervention the assessments of functional fitness and psychosocial measures will be repeated. The group that was randomized to the auditory rehabilitation alone will then be offered the exercise program.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

-Gender: Male and female

Age limits:

  • Minimum age: 65 years of age
  • Maximum age: 90 years of age.
  • Self-reported diagnosis of hearing loss
  • Must be independently ambulatory (no use of cane, walker or wheelchair)
  • Less than150 minutes per week of self-reported physical activity
  • Healthy enough to participate in the intervention without exacerbating any existing symptomatology
  • Not having participated in any organized exercise program for at least 6 months
  • Availability and willingness to attend at least 80% of the 10 week intervention sessions in addition to baseline and final assessments. -Be English speaking and able to sign written informed consent
  • A Hearing Handicap In the Elderly-25 questionnaire score of 25 > 17

Exclusion criteria

  • Dementia
  • Depression

Treatment and study plan

Exercise + health education+ auditory rehabilitation

Other

comparison of 3/4 of an hour balance, resistance and strength training, 1 hour health education, 1 hour auditory rehabilitation

auditory rehabilitation alone

Other

10 weeks of one hour per week of group auditory rehabilitation

Primary outcomes

  1. functional fitness

    Time frame: 3 months

    Gait speed (6 minute walk test: distance in meters walked in 6 minutes)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Psychosocial outcomes

    Time frame: 3 months

    Hearing and health-related quality of life HHIE-25

  2. Physical and behaviour measures

    Time frame: 3 months

    Physical activity: Time spent in moderate-vigorous physical activity: The Actigraph GT3X+ tri-axial waist worn accelerometer (Actigraph, Pensacola, Florida)

  3. Project evaluation

    Time frame: 3 months

    Satisfaction with the Auditory Rehabilitation, health education and exercise sessions. Confidence in being able to maintain their newly acquired communication strategies and exercise regime. Comments on how the program could be improved.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of British Columbia

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Targeting Functional Fitness, Hearing and Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults With Hearing Loss. Walk, Talk and Listen for Your Life, A Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: WTL

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2016
Study completion
2016
First posted
Jan 25, 2016
Registry last updated
Nov 9, 2020

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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