Listening and Communication Enhancement (LACE)

ABSTRACT

Hearing-impaired individuals have varying degrees of success with amplification. Prognosis may be based on both peripheral and central phenomena. In addition, some individuals use compensatory strategies that may result in successful hearing aid use. Others, however, are not so fortunate. Modern hearing aids can provide audibility, but may not rectify changes in spectral and temporal resolution, susceptibility to noise, or degradation of cognitive skills associated with aging. Auditory training has long been advocated to enhance communication, but has never been considered time or cost-effective. LACE (listening and auditory communication enhancement), is a home-based, interactive, adaptive computer program designed to engage the adult hearing- impaired listener in the hearing aid-fitting process, provide listening strategies, build confidence, and address cognitive changes characteristic of the aging process. In addition, it provides the audiologist with the means to perform remote monitoring of a patient's progress. Concepts underlying the development of this therapy and a description of a multisite validation study are presented.

KEYWORDS

Cognitive skills - analytic training - synthetic training - adaptive training - on-task measures - listening enhancement

REFERENCES

• 1 Kiessling J, Pichora-Fuller M K, Gatehouse S et al.. Candidature for and delivery of audiological services: Special needs of older people.  Int J Audiol. 2003;  42(Suppl) S92-S101
• 2 Hickson L, Worrall L. Beyond hearing aid fitting: improving communication for older adults.  Int J Audiol. 2003;  42(Suppl 2) 84-91
• 3 Pichora-Fuller M K. Cognitive aging and auditory information processing.  Int J Audiol. 2003;  42(Suppl 2) 26-32
• 4 Gordon-Salant S. Fitzgibbons, PJ. Profile of auditory temporal processing in older listeners.  J Speech Lang Hear Res. 1999;  42 300-311
• 5 Wingfield A, Tun P A. Spoken language comprehension in older adults: interactions between sensory and cognitive change in normal aging.  Semin Hear. 2001;  22 287-301
• 6 van Hooren S A, Anteunis L, Bosma H et al.. Does cognitive function in older adults with hearing impairment improve by hearing aid use?.  Int JAudiol. 2005;  44 265-271
• 7 Kricos P B, McCarthy P. From ear to there: an historical perspective on auditory training.  Semin Hear. 2007;  28 89-98
• 8 Sweetow R, Palmer C. Efficacy of individualized auditory training in adults: A systematic review of the evidence.  J Am Acad Audiol. 2005;  16 494-504
• 9 Ciuffreda K J. The scientific basis for and efficacy of optometric vision therapy in nonstrabismic accommodative and vergence disorders.  Optometry. 2002;  73 735-762
• 10 Gunther V K, Schafer P, Holzer B J. Kemmler. Long-term improvements in cognitive performance through computer-assisted cognitive training: A pilot study in a residential home for older people.  Aging Ment Health. 2003;  7 200-206
• 11 Linkenhoker B A, Knudsen E I. Incremental training increases the plasticity of the auditory space map in adult barn owls.  Nature. 2002;  419 293-296
• 12 Cronin B, Sims D, VonFeldt J et al.. The DAVID system: the development of an interactive video system at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. A pilot experiment in computer assisted speechreading instruction utilizing the data analysis video interactive device (DAVID).  Am Ann Deaf. 1979;  124 616-623
• 13 Boothroyd A. CASPER, computer-assisted speech-perception evaluation and training. In: Proceedings of the 10th Annual Conference of the Rehabilitation Society of North America. Washington DC; Association for Advancement of Rehabilitation Technology 1987: 734-736
• 14 Dempsey J J, Levitt H, Josephson J, Porrazzo J. Computer-assisted tracking simulation (CAT S).  J Acoust Soc Am. 1992;  92 701-710
• 15 Gagné J-P, Jennings M-B. Audiological rehabilitation intervention services for adults with acquired hearing impairment. In: Valente M, Hosford-Dunn H, Roeser R Audiology Treatment. New York; Thieme 2000: 547-580
• 16 Schow R L, Balsara N R, Smedley T C, Whitcomb C J. Aural rehabilitation by ASHA audiologists: 1980-1990.  Am J Audiol. 1993;  2 28-37
• 17 Sweetow R, Henderson-Sabes J. The case for LACE, individualized listening and auditory communication enhancement training.  Hearing Journal. 2004;  57 32-40
• 18 Sweetow R W, Henderson Sabes J. The need for and development of an adaptive listening and communication enhancement (LACE™) program.  J Am Acad Audiol. 2006;  17 538-558
• 19 Ventry I M, Weinstein B E. The Hearing Handicap for the Elderly: a new tool.  Ear Hear. 1982;  3(3) 128-134
• 20 Newman C W, Weinstein B E, Jacobson G P, Hug G A. The Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults: psychometric adequacy and audiometric correlates.  Ear Hear. 1990;  11(6) 430-433
• 21 Kaplan H, Bally S, Brandt F, Busacco D, Pray J. Communication Scale for Older Adults (CSOA).  J Am Acad Audiol. 1997;  8(3) 203-217
• 22 Hawkey D J, Amitay S, Moore D R. Early and rapid perceptual learning.  Nat Neurosci. 2004;  7 1055-1056
• 23 Tremblay K L. Training-related changes in the brain: evidence from human auditory evoked potentials.  Semin Hear. 2007;  2 120-132
• 24 Nabelek A K, Tampas J W, Burchfield S B. Comparison of speech perception in background noise with acceptance of background noise in aided and unaided conditions.  J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2004;  47 1001-1011
• 25 Wayner D S. Aural rehabilitation adds value, lifts satisfaction, cuts returns.  Hear J. 2005;  58 30-38