The effect of multimodal sensory stimulation on physiological parameters and consciousness levels in ICU-admitted traumatic brain injury patients: a clinical trial design

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents the most prevalent debilitating neurological condition among adults. Sensory deprivation, resulting from cerebral damage, prolonged immobilization, social isolation, and critical illness, constitutes a major complication for ICU-admitted TBI patients. Implementing safe, simple stimulation protocols may significantly enhance recovery outcomes....

This is a trial design paper with no results yet; no change to audiology or rehabilitation practice is warranted at this stage, though the auditory stimulation component may be of future interest to audiologists working in neurorehabilitation.

If multimodal sensory stimulation — including auditory input — proves effective in disorders of consciousness, it could expand the role of audiologists in ICU and neurorehabilitation settings.

1. 01Protocol-only paper: no efficacy or safety results are reported.
2. 02Intervention involves multimodal sensory stimulation (auditory, tactile, visual, and olfactory) in ICU TBI patients.
3. 03Primary outcomes include physiological parameters and consciousness level assessments.
4. 04Auditory stimulation is one component of the multimodal intervention, giving peripheral relevance to audiology.
5. 05Published in Scientific Reports (DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-45517-x).

PMID

42373659

DOI

10.1038/s41598-026-45517-x.

Journal

Scientific Reports

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

1b

Population

ICU-admitted patients with traumatic brain injury

Intervention

Multimodal sensory stimulation (auditory, tactile, visual, olfactory)