Effect of Computerized Training Programs for Attention and Perception for Patients with Hearing Aids.

Introduction Sensorineural hearing loss is a common problem, especially among geriatric patients, and it requires hearing aids. Unfortunately, most geriatric patients are hesitant to use hearing aids. Purpose of this study is to investigate whether computerized training therapies increase the attention and perception of patients who have been given hearing aids using psychophysiological tests and wave p300 records. Methods One hundred patients (40 women and 60 men) who used hearing aids were included in our study. Sixty patients (30 women and 30 men) received computerized training therapies with hearing aids. After the psychophysiological tests, the study group was divided into three groups according to the contributions of patients to training. Passive training was given in group 1; interactive training was given in group 2 and group 3 was composed of active, questioning training. Measurements of p300 wave latencies, stimuli-p300 peak and baseline-p300 peak were performed before and after training. The control group consisted of 40 patients who did not receive training and were treated with hearing aids only. Results We found a significant difference between the pre- and post-training measures of the p300 wave (p<0.001). Pre-training measurements of p300 waves were recorded for 12% in group 1; 9.1% in group 2 and 3 (p= 0.24). Post-training measurements of the p300 wave records were 80% in group 1; %72.7 in groups 2 and 3 (p= 0.22). Conclusion Attention and perception can be measured with p300 wave. All computer supported training programs showed an increase of p300 wave suggesting that attention and perception of patients with hearing loss can be increased with computer-supported education programs provided with hearing aids.