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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07077070

Investigating Electrical Categorical Loudness Scaling Using a Mobile Research App in Experienced Adult Cochlear Implant Participants

This clinical study will evaluate a feature of the investigational Nexus Research System used for programming cochlear implants.

Programming a cochlear implant-commonly referred to as MAP fitting-involves activating the device, allowing recipients to acclimatize to hearing sounds, and then fine-tuning the program based on the user's perception of loudness across different sounds. This process typically occurs over several visits and requires a clinician to collect data for the fine-tuning phase.

The Nexus Research System includes an "Electrical Loudness Scaling" task, which participants can complete independently using a mobile application to collect the necessary data. Based on findings from previous studies, this feature has been revised to enable faster data collection. The current study will assess the performance of the updated feature.

The study will involve experienced cochlear implant users. Participants will use the feature, undergo a series of hearing assessments-including evaluations of loudness perception-and provide feedback on the updated feature.

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Key information

Conditions

Hearing Loss, Sensorineural 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

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Cochlear Technology Centre Belgium, Mechelen, Belgium

Loading trial locations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • At least three months of experience with the cochlear implant.
  • Implanted with the CI600 series (CI612, CI622, CI632) or CI500 series (CI512, CI522, CI532) cochlear implant.
  • Able to be programmed with ACE (Advanced Combination Encoder), a fixed pulse width (PW) MAP with a maximum PW of 50 us per channel and with ≥ 18 enabled channels on the sound processor MAP.
  • Fluent speaker in the language used to conduct the study procedures, as determined by the investigator.
  • Willing and able to provide written informed consent and to comply with all requirements of the protocol.

Exclusion criteria

  • Participants programmed with an acoustic component in the tested ear.
  • Additional health factors, known to the investigator, that would prevent or restrict participation in the evaluations, including significant visual impairment and/or dexterity issues.
  • Unable or unwilling to comply with the requirements of the clinical investigation as determined by the investigator.
  • Investigator site personnel directly affiliated with this study and/or their immediate families; immediate family is defined as a spouse, parent, child, or sibling.
  • Cochlear employees or employees of Contract Research Organizations or contractors engaged by Cochlear for the purposes of this investigation.
  • Current participation, or participation in another interventional clinical study/trial in the past 30 days, involving an investigational drug or device (unless Cochlear sponsored and determined by investigator or Sponsor to not impact this investigation).

Treatment and study plan

Standard Electrical Categorical Loudness Scaling task (Standard-ELS)

Device

The Standard-ELS task is conducted using the Mobile Research Application within the Nexus Research system. It is completed in two phases: the first phase identifies the lower and upper bounds of the loudness range based on participant ratings, while the second phase collects data from stimulations delivered within the established range.

Fast Electrical Categorical Loudness Scaling task (Fast-ELS)

Device

The Fast-ELS task employs an algorithm to estimate the lower and upper bounds of the loudness range using a limited number of samples. This range is then refined by collecting additional samples across various loudness categories for comprehensive coverage.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in patient reported loudness rating scores for very soft sounds (loudness category 5) between Fast-ELS and Standard-ELS within one on-site session.

    Time frame: Day 0, Day 14

    To compare the accuracy of Fast-ELS and Standard-ELS obtained on MRA using a visual analogue scale within one session on-site.

  2. Change in patient reported loudness rating scores for loud sounds (loudness category 35) between Fast-ELS and Standard-ELS within one on-site session.

    Time frame: Day 0, Day 14

    To compare the accuracy of Fast-ELS and Standard-ELS obtained on MRA using a visual analogue scale within one session on-site.

  3. Change in patient reported loudness rating scores for very soft sounds (loudness category 5) between Fast-ELS and Standard-ELS within one at home session.

    Time frame: Day 0 - Day 14

    To compare the accuracy of Fast-ELS and Standard-ELS obtained on MRA using a visual analogue scale within one session at home.

  4. Change in patient reported loudness rating scores for loud sounds (loudness category 35) between Fast-ELS and Standard-ELS within one at home session.

    Time frame: Day 0 - Day 14

    To compare the accuracy of Fast-ELS and Standard-ELS obtained on MRA using a visual analogue scale within one session at home.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Correlation coefficient of very soft sounds (loudness category 5) obtained with Fast-ELS within one session on-site.

    Time frame: Day 0, Day 14

    Test-retest reliability of Fast-ELS outcomes to very soft sounds obtained within one session on-site.

  2. Correlation coefficient of very soft sounds (loudness category 5) obtained with Fast-ELS within one session at home.

    Time frame: Day 0 - Day 14

    Test-retest reliability of Fast-ELS outcomes to very soft sounds obtained within one session at home.

  3. Correlation coefficient of loud sounds (loudness category 35) obtained with Fast-ELS within one session on-site.

    Time frame: Day 0, Day 14

    Test-retest reliability of Fast-ELS outcomes to loud sounds obtained within one session on-site.

  4. Correlation coefficient of loud sounds (loudness category 35) obtained with Fast-ELS within one session at home.

    Time frame: Day 0 - Day 14

    Test-retest reliability of Fast-ELS outcomes to loud sounds obtained within one session at home.

  5. Correlation coefficient of very soft sounds (loudness category 5) obtained with Fast-ELS obtained during multiple sessions on-site.

    Time frame: 14 days

    Test-retest reliability of Fast-ELS outcomes to very soft sounds obtained during multiple sessions on-site.

  6. Correlation coefficient of very soft sounds (loudness category 5) obtained with Fast-ELS obtained during multiple sessions at home.

    Time frame: 14 days

    Test-retest reliability of Fast-ELS outcomes to very soft sounds obtained during multiple sessions at home.

  7. Correlation coefficient of very soft sounds (loudness category 35) obtained with Fast-ELS obtained during multiple sessions on-site.

    Time frame: 14 days

    Test-retest reliability of Fast-ELS outcomes to loud sounds obtained during multiple sessions on-site.

  8. Correlation coefficient of very soft sounds (loudness category 35) obtained with Fast-ELS obtained during multiple sessions at home.

    Time frame: 14 days

    Test-retest reliability of Fast-ELS outcomes to loud sounds obtained during multiple sessions at home.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Cochlear

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

A Feasibility, Prospective, Repeated-measures, Within-subject, Interventional Study Investigating the Electrical Categorical Loudness Scaling Using the Mobile Research App in the Home and In-clinic Situation in Experienced Adult Cochlear Implant Participants

Acronym: ELSA

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jul 22, 2025
Registry last updated
Jan 8, 2026

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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