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| Name | Class |
|---|---|
| Haukeland University Hospital | OTHER |
| University of Dublin, Trinity College | OTHER |
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Hearing impairment is common in older adults, and recent research points to associations between hearing impairment and balance/mobility. The association may be due to more attentional resources being used to compensate for the sensory loss, with less resources available for maintaining balance. The aim of this projects is therefore to investigate whether an exercise program with focus on motor-cognitive tasks is feasible for older adults with hearing impairment. The study is meant as a proof-of-concept study, where trialling will be evaluated, and results will be used to inform the design of a larger and adequately powered study.
Study design:
This is an experimental (exercise) study with follow-ups three and twelve months after exercise completion.
Participants:
Participants will be recruited from two instances:
Intervention arms:
The exercises will be done in a movement lab at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. Participants will be randomised to either of the three intervention arms using a computerized procedure. Neither participants, testers or deliverers of the intervention will be blinded. Testers and intervention deliverers will be physiotherapists, students enrolled in a master program in clinical physiotherapy and bachelor students in physiotherapy.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual reality exercise | Experimental | 20 participants will be randomised to this arm |
|
| Vestibular rehabilitation exercise | Experimental | 20 participants will be randomised to this arm |
|
| Control | Other | 20 participants will be randomised to this arm |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual reality exercise | Other | Participants will do exercises in a virtual environment, solving tasks that require cognitive efforts and motor/balance efforts. The virtual environment/tasks will be delivered through a head-mounted display ("goggles"). Difficulty will progress from standing/sitting, to walking on a treadmill. The environments that will be used will be both over-the-counter environments, as well as in-house designed environments. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Short physical performance battery | Test of balance and mobility, with three tasks (walking, standing balance, sit-to-stand), scores from 0-12. | Measured as change from baseline/before intervention, to after intervention (six weeks after baseline), to three months after intervention and to 12 months after intervention |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Standing balance - posturography | Body sway measured on a balance platform, with eyes open/closed and on a firm/compliant surface | Measured as change from baseline/before intervention, to after intervention (six weeks after baseline), to three months after intervention and to 12 months after intervention |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Activity monitoring | Participants will wear sensors over 4 days, registering activity in their own environments | Measured as change from baseline/before intervention to after intervention (6 weeks after baseline) |
| Dizziness Handicap Inventory |
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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|
| Vestibular rehabilitation exercise | Other | Vestibular rehabilitation exercises focus on head and eyes movements, as well as whole-body movements. The aim is to facilitate the use of other sensory organs than the vestibular organs, which will also be relevant to persons who are not receiving sufficient sensory information from the auditory system. The exercises will progress as tolerated, under careful supervision of trained therapists. |
|
| Control | Other | Participants will not be randomised to either of the exercise interventions, but will be adviced to stay active |
|
| Walking balance |
Participants will walk across an electronic walkway that registers steps, for analysis of gait steadiness |
| Measured as change from baseline/before intervention, to after intervention (six weeks after baseline), to three months after intervention and to 12 months after intervention |
| The World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) | Questionnaire that registers disability across several domains. Possible score range is 0-144, where lower values indicate less disability | Measured as change from baseline/before intervention, to after intervention (six weeks after baseline), to three months after intervention and to 12 months after intervention |
25 item-questionnaire that registers limitations due to dizziness. Possible scores range from 0-100, and higher scores indicate more dizziness-related handicap.
| Measured at baseline/before intervention and after intervention (6 weeks after baseline) |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D034381 | Hearing Loss |
| D020233 | Gait Disorders, Neurologic |
| D000073496 | Frailty |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D006311 | Hearing Disorders |
| D004427 | Ear Diseases |
| D010038 | Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases |
| D012678 | Sensation Disorders |
| D009461 | Neurologic Manifestations |
| D009422 | Nervous System Diseases |
| D012816 | Signs and Symptoms |
| D013568 | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |
| D010335 | Pathologic Processes |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D000088544 | Exergaming |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D015444 | Exercise |
| D009043 | Motor Activity |
| D009068 | Movement |
| D009142 | Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena |
| D055687 | Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena |
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