In a quest to help children facing profound deafness, scientists are exploring quite a few innovative avenues. One of them is using computer games, specifically VR games to help them deal with speech.
The experiment uses a programme called, known as Bears — a portmanteau for Both Ears — and is tailored for youngsters who have undergone bilateral cochlear implantation to address their hearing challenges.
Leading the charge is Lorenzo Picinali, an expert from Imperial College London, who underscores the critical importance of aiding profoundly deaf children. While cochlear implants serve as invaluable tools, enabling sound perception, they often present challenges in accurate interpretation.
To address this, the Bears project introduces engaging computer games as a means of enhancing auditory skills, particularly in sound localization and speech comprehension.
One such game immerses players in a virtual reality experience, where they simulate running a food stall. As they navigate through various challenges, such as fulfilling orders from animated characters amidst escalating background noise, players are tasked with honing their auditory abilities.
Despite the game’s increasing complexity, it serves as an effective training ground for improving sound localization and speech understanding.
Central to the project’s success is the active involvement of the children themselves in the game’s development process. By incorporating their insights and feedback, researchers ensure that the games are both enjoyable and beneficial for their intended audience.
Unlike traditional hearing aids, which amplify sounds, cochlear implants transform acoustic signals into electrical impulses, facilitating transmission to the brain. However, interpreting these signals accurately can pose difficulties, particularly in noisy environments.
The computer games offered by the Bears project serve as valuable tools for helping children adapt to and optimize their cochlear implants’ functionality.
Moreover, the project’s impact extends beyond cochlear implant recipients, with potential benefits for the broader population of deaf children in the UK, estimated at around 50,000.
By revolutionizing hearing rehabilitation through innovative approaches like computer-assisted training, scientists aim to enhance the quality of life for children with hearing impairments.
Supported by a multidisciplinary team from various academic institutions and hospitals, the Bears project is conducting extensive trials involving over 300 children to evaluate the efficacy of the games. Through rigorous testing and evaluation, researchers aim to deliver tangible improvements in auditory outcomes, thereby making a meaningful difference in the lives of children facing profound deafness.
