News

Hearing experts based at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) are managing the COACH trial (COmpAring Cochlear implantation with Hearing aids in adults with severe hearing loss) which involves audiologists at hospitals from around the UK, to identify the best treatment options for adults living with severe hearing loss. 

Severe hearing loss affects over a million people in the UK. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that by 2050 nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide will experience some degree of hearing loss and at least 700 million will require hearing rehabilitation.

If left untreated, hearing loss can negatively affect education, employment, and quality of life.

Currently, we do not know whether a cochlear implant is more effective than hearing aids in adults whose hearing test results and speech understanding scores are just outside the range that would make them eligible to receive a cochlear implant on the NHS.

This is the ‘grey area’ that we hope this trial will provide an answer for, to influence NHS policy and offer the best treatment possible for all people in the future.

World-class research infrastructure

Dr Padraig Kitterick and Professor Doug Hartley are Co-Chief Investigators for the COACH trial. Professor Hartley, Professor of Otology at the University of Nottingham and Consultant ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) Surgeon at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust said:

“The trial will bring together the research expertise in the University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, supported by the world-class research infrastructure of the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

"This is a great example of the UK and our National Health Service being at the forefront of conducting clinical trials to improve the lives of people with hearing loss both here at home and around the world.”

Sarah Chapman, a member of the public with hearing loss, is working alongside the COACH trial team.

She said: “This trial, which is being shaped by people with severe hearing loss, is working alongside researchers and will provide evidence to fill this important gap in knowledge.

“Instead of best guesses, we’ll have best evidence to inform decisions about treating severe hearing loss.”

NUH is among the NHS hospital sites taking part in the trial. The costs of the trial are funded by Cochlear Ltd, a global manufacturer of implantable hearing devices. The company is not involved in designing, delivering, or writing up the trial, which is run independently by NHS doctors and audiologists, as well as researchers from the Nottingham BRC and the University of Nottingham.

• There is still time for more people to take part in this important world-leading study. If you, or someone you know with severe hearing loss, would like to find out more about this trial, please visit the COACH website at www.coachtrial.ac.uk. This website also includes a video that explains how people may be able to take part in the trial.