A Comparative Analysis of Speech Perception Between Cochlear Implant Patients and DFNB9 Patients Receiving Gene Therapy

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06237790
• Recruitment Status: Not yet recruiting
• First Posted: February 1, 2024
• Last Update Posted: March 26, 2024
• Sponsor: Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University
• Collaborator: Shanghai Rehabilitation Institute for the Exceptional Children
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University

Study Description

Brief Summary:

This cohort study aims to explore the trends and differences in multidimensional perceptual levels of patients after cochlear implants or gene therapy, as well as to comprehensively assess the efficacy of gene therapy for congenital deafness, thus providing a reference for making a well-rounded postoperative rehabilitation protocol for gene therapy patients.

Condition or disease
Hearing Loss; Genetic Disease; Speech Perception

Detailed Description:

Cochlear implant patients exhibit improved speech perception in quiet environments after surgery, but their music perception and speech perception under noise are still unsatisfactory. Gene therapy is a novel and promising treatment for congenital hearing loss to recover natural hearing sensations. To date, for patients with congenital deafness, there has been no study on their ability to perceive and understand sounds, such as speech perception in noise, music and directional perception, after hearing recovery owing to gene therapy. In addition, the difference between the two treatments in those perceptual levels postoperatively remains unknown.

Therefore, the investigators designed a single-center cohort study. Based on the intervention method, congenital deafness patients are divided into two groups: the cochlear implant group and the gene therapy group. In the present study, a full-scale evaluation of the two groups will be conducted. The battery encompasses auditory speech perception, cognition, psychological status, and auditory cortex development. A comparative analysis will be conducted to examine multidimensional differences between the two groups, shedding light on the divergent outcomes of gene therapy and cochlear implants for patients with congenital deafness.

Study Design

• Study Type: Observational
• Estimated Enrollment: 57 participants
• Observational Model: Cohort
• Time Perspective: Other
• Official Title: A Comparative Analysis of Speech Perception Between Cochlear Implant Patients and DFNB9 Patients Receiving Gene Therapy
• Estimated Study Start Date: April 3, 2024
• Estimated Primary Completion Date: October 3, 2025
• Estimated Study Completion Date: December 22, 2026

Groups and Cohorts

Group/Cohort
Gene Therapy Group; The study will recruit gene therapy patients who are definitely diagnosed with autosomal recessive deafness 9 (DFNB9).
Cochlear Implant Group; The study will recruit cochlear implant patients with congenital deafness.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Auditory speech perception [ Time Frame: Preoperation, week 13, week 26 and week 52 ]
   Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (MAIS)/Infant-toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS): the MAIS (≥3 years old)/IT-MAIS (0~3 years old) is an auditory perception test with a total score of 40 points. The higher the score the better the hearing ability.
2. Auditory speech perception [ Time Frame: Preoperation, week 13, week 26 and week 52 ]
   Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP): the CAP is an auditory perception test with a total levels of 8. The higher the level the better the hearing ability.
3. Auditory speech perception [ Time Frame: Preoperation, week 13, week 26 and week 52 ]
   Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR): the SIR is a speech perception test with a total levels of 5. The higher the level the better the hearing ability.
4. Auditory speech perception [ Time Frame: Preoperation, week 13, week 26 and week 52 ]
   Meaningful Use of Speech Scale (MUSS): the MUSS is a speech perception test with a total score of 50 points. The higher the score the better the hearing ability.
5. Auditory speech perception [ Time Frame: Preoperation, week 13, week 26 and week 52 ]
   Speech, Spatial, and Other Qualities of Hearing Scale for Parents (SSQ-P): the SSQ-P is an auditory speech and sound location perception test with a total score of 10 points. The higher the score the better the auditory speech and sound location ability.
6. Auditory speech perception [ Time Frame: Preoperation, week 13, week 26 and week 52 ]
   Mandarin Speech Perception (MSP): the MSP is a speech test software included the perception tests of monosyllable, disyllable and sentence recognition in quiet and noise environment. The higher the score the better the auditory speech ability.
7. Auditory speech perception [ Time Frame: Preoperation, week 13, week 26 and week 52 ]
   The Angel Test: the Angel Test is a speech test software included the perception tests of environmental sound test, final recognition test, initial recognition test and lexical tone test in quiet environment. The higher the score the better the auditory speech ability.

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Cognitive function [ Time Frame: Preoperation, week 13, week 26 and week 52 ]
   Griffiths development scales(GDS)/Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 4e (WISC-IV): the GDS (0~6 years old)/WISC-IV (7~16 years old) is a cognitive function test. The higher the score the better the cognitive function.
2. Psychological status [ Time Frame: Preoperation, week 26 and week 52 ]
   Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire(SDQ): the SDQ is a psychological status test with a total score of 25 points. The lower the score the better the psychological status.
3. Auditory cortex development [ Time Frame: Preoperation, week 13, week 26 and week 52 ]
   Electroencephalogram (EEG): the EEG is a non-invasive brain imaging method that uses brain maps to assess changes in auditory and speech-related cortex.
4. Auditory cortex development [ Time Frame: Preoperation, week 13, week 26 and week 52 ]
   Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS): the fNIRS is a non-invasive brain imaging method that uses brain maps to assess changes in auditory and speech-related cortex.

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: up to 18 Years (Child, Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The number of enrollments in the gene therapy group is expected to be 19, and that of the cochlear implant group is expected to be 38, according to the 1:2 pairing of the two groups.

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with congenital hearing loss with hearing thresholds ≥65 dB receive either gene therapy (previously received gene therapy and standardized postoperative rehabilitation and follow-up or plan to receive gene therapy), or cochlear implant surgery.
• Age ≤18 years old, regardless of gender.
• Mandarin Chinese as the native language.
• Participants and their guardians must provide informed consent before the trial, voluntarily sign a written consent form, and commit to follow-up at specified time points.
• Capable of effective communication with researchers under the guardian's assistance and willing to cooperate and comply with the researchers' requirements.
• The participant's guardians should have a correct understanding of the trial and appropriate expectations regarding potential benefits.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of other otological disorders that may interfere with the surgical outcome or interpretation of study endpoints, such as middle/inner ear dysplasia or malformations that affected the therapeutic effect revealed in CT/MRI scans within 3 months, vestibular-cochlear nerve abnormalities, acute/chronic otitis media, Meniere's disease, etc.
• Presence of other severe congenital diseases.
• Presence of severe systemic diseases or in the acute onset of diseases, such as pulmonary tuberculosis, active hepatitis B or C infection, active herpes zoster infection, pancreatitis, renal insufficiency, etc.
• Individuals with low immunity, a history of immune deficiency or organ transplantation.
• Individuals with a history of neurological or mental disorders, such as epilepsy or dementia.
• Patients with contraindications for surgery or anesthesia assessed by a surgeon, anesthetist, or designated personnel, such as cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events in the past 6 months, allergies to the planned medications, etc.
• Gene therapy group: gene therapy did not restore hearing; Cochlear implant group: presence of hereditary syndromic deafness or other conditions that seriously affect the efficacy evaluation.
• Any other conditions for which the investigators consider the subject unsuitable for participation in this clinical study.

Contacts and Locations

Contacts

Contact: Yilai Shu, M.D. & Ph.D.; +86 21 6437 7134; yilai_shu@fudan.edu.cn

Locations

China, Shanghai

Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University

Shanghai, Shanghai, China, 200031

Contact: Yilai Shu, M.D. & Ph.D. +86 21 6437 7134 yilai_shu@fudan.edu.cn

Sponsors and Collaborators

Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University

Shanghai Rehabilitation Institute for the Exceptional Children

Investigators

• Study Chair: Yilai Shu, M.D. & Ph.D.; Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University

More Information

• Responsible Party: Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06237790
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2023185-1
• First Posted: February 1, 2024
• Last Update Posted: March 26, 2024
• Last Verified: March 2024

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No

Keywords provided by Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University:

Congenital Hearing Loss; DFNB9; Gene Therapy; Cochlear Implant; Speech Perception

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Hearing Loss; Deafness; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Hearing Disorders; Ear Diseases; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Sensation Disorders; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases