Improving Speech Perception Outcomes In Deaf Adults And Children Using Cochlear Implants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$160,604.00
Summary
This project aims to further improve on speech understanding by deaf adults and children using the cochlear implant. In particular, we aim to individually modify the speech coding scheme on the basis of the basic hearing skills of the subject. In this manner, more speech information should be available and the users will likely gain more benefit from their cochlear implants. The speech processing strategy of the multiple-electrode cochlear implant, manufactured by the Australian biomedical compa ....This project aims to further improve on speech understanding by deaf adults and children using the cochlear implant. In particular, we aim to individually modify the speech coding scheme on the basis of the basic hearing skills of the subject. In this manner, more speech information should be available and the users will likely gain more benefit from their cochlear implants. The speech processing strategy of the multiple-electrode cochlear implant, manufactured by the Australian biomedical company Cochlear Limited, codes acoustic frequency information on electrodes which are located in the cochlea. The assignment of frequencies to electrodes is consistent with the ordering of pitch in the cochlea. For optimum performance, all electrodes would need to be perceptually distinct from each other. Recent research with adults and children has shown that this is not the case for a number of subjects as adjacent electrodes sound the same. Thus important speech information may not be heard by these subjects. In this project, we will determine how well adults and children are able to hear differences between the electrodes, and then provide speech processing schemes which exclude those electrodes which sound the same as others in close proximity. The project will compare these modified strategies with the standard strategy currently used by the subjects over time, so that any differences in the way adults and children are able to improve on speech understanding will be determined. As far as can be determined, this project will be the first investigation to improve on speech understanding in children using the cochlear implant.Read moreRead less
Modelling Traumatic Brain Injury Using Neuropsychological, Neurosurgical, Neurochemical, And Neuroradiological Measures
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$403,370.00
Summary
Post mortem and brain imaging studies of patients who have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) indicate that they sustain both focal damage and widespread diffuse damage. This diffuse damage is more difficult to detect but has been found to occur even after mild injuries and in the absence of focal brain damage. Moreover, diffuse damage is thought to contribute both to changes in a patient's level of consciousness at the time of injury and to the long-term problems experienced by patients after a ....Post mortem and brain imaging studies of patients who have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) indicate that they sustain both focal damage and widespread diffuse damage. This diffuse damage is more difficult to detect but has been found to occur even after mild injuries and in the absence of focal brain damage. Moreover, diffuse damage is thought to contribute both to changes in a patient's level of consciousness at the time of injury and to the long-term problems experienced by patients after a TBI, suggesting that diffuse damage may provide a valuable index of the amount of brain damage that has been sustained as a result of an injury. While clinicians presently assess many cognitive abilities, they do not target the cognitive problems that are thought to arise from diffuse damage. This is largely due to an absence of validated measures and a limited understanding of the effects of diffuse damage on cognitive functioning. Consequently, we do not have a clear understanding of the extent to which diffuse damage contributes to patient outcome after a TBI. The present study is designed to provide a model of the effects of TBI that will include neuropsychological, neurosurgical, neurochemical and neuroradiological variables. The cognitive effects of diffuse damage will be assessed and related to neurochemical and brain imaging indices of diffuse damage in order to examine the relationship between brain structure and function. This study will improve our understanding of the effects of diffuse damage on cognitive functioning and will lead to the development of measures that can be used to assess the consequences of diffuse damage. In doing so, this study will improve the accuracy with which we are able to diagnose the cognitive problems of patients who have suffered a TBI. This will, in turn, reduce the public health, insurance and litigation costs associated with this type of injury.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Personalised Goal-directed Activity To Treat Agitation In Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$310,077.00
Summary
We will test by means of a randomised controlled trial the effectiveness of personalised, goal-directed activities in reducing agitated behaviour in aged care residents with dementia. Evidence suggests that treatments work best when adapted to people's interest, skills and backgrounds. Our activities require no special equipment and there is no need to exclude people with limited language skills. The study will be controlled to ensure that benefits are not due just to social interaction.
Mental Disorders And The Social Transitions Of Adulthood: A 20-year Follow-up Of The Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$441,224.00
Summary
This study aims to understand how transitions to parenthood, marriage and employment might be affected by the experience of a mental disorder or problems with alcohol or other drugs. It will also look at a question of whether making a good transition (e.g. a satisfying marriage) can help recovery from a mental or substance use disorder.
Sydney Multisite Intervention Of LaughterBosses And ElderClowns (SMILE): An RCT Of Humour Therapy In Residential Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$852,237.00
Summary
Sydney Multisite Intervention of LaughterBosses and ElderClowns (SMILE) is a trial of humour therapy. About 400 residents from 36 hostels and nursing homes will be randomly assigned to receive the SMILE treatment or usual care. ElderClowns will visit weekly, and staff volunteers will be trained to be LaughterBosses and bring humour to daily care routines. SMILE will evaluate whether humour therapy improves resident quality-of-life and mood, and reduces staff burnout and turnover.
Insight And Cognitive Decline In Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$399,600.00
Summary
Australia's population is aging rapidly and so is the frequency of age-related disorders. Dementia is one of the most frequent mental health disorders and one of the leading causes of years of life lost due to disability in Australia. Therefore it is important to be able to identify older adults at high risk of developing dementia in order to be able to introduce preventative strategies. One important risk factor for cognitive decline is the presence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older a ....Australia's population is aging rapidly and so is the frequency of age-related disorders. Dementia is one of the most frequent mental health disorders and one of the leading causes of years of life lost due to disability in Australia. Therefore it is important to be able to identify older adults at high risk of developing dementia in order to be able to introduce preventative strategies. One important risk factor for cognitive decline is the presence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults who complain about memory problems. However many subjects with MCI do not develop dementia and it remains a challenge to identify those with pre-dementia amongst those with MCI. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether reduced awareness of cognitive impairment is a better predictor of cognitive decline and dementia than having memory complaints . To investigate the association of reduced awareness and cognitive decline, 80 participants with MCI and 80 healthy controls will be followed over a period of 24 months. Awareness will be measured and compared to information on cognitive and functional impairment given by the participant and an informant. Additionally, information from neuroimaging and laboratory studies will be collected to determine it's interaction with reduced awareness.Read moreRead less