✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
✦ Clinical Takeaway ✦
This is a protocol paper; results are not yet available, so no change to clinical practice is indicated — clinicians should watch for outcomes of the BEARS trial in due course.
✦ Why It Matters ✦
If the BEARS virtual reality training proves effective, it could become a scalable, engaging rehabilitation tool for pediatric bilateral cochlear implant users, a population with limited evidence-based auditory training options.
✦ Key Points ✦
- 01Multicentre phase III RCT protocol for the BEARS (Both EARS) virtual reality training package.
- 02Target population: children and young people with bilateral cochlear implants.
- 03Outcome focus: maximizing hearing abilities through structured VR-based auditory training.
- 04Published in BMJ Open as a protocol paper — no efficacy results yet available.
- 05Trial design is randomised and controlled, providing a high-quality evidence framework.
✦ Claims & Evidence ✦
ClaimEvidenceSupport
Virtual reality training may maximise hearing abilities in children and young people with bilateral cochlear implants.
studyunclear✦ Research metadata ✦
- PMID
- 42946354
- DOI
- 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-128310.
- Journal
- BMJ Open
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 1b
- Population
- Children and young people with bilateral cochlear implants
- Intervention
- Both EARS (BEARS) virtual reality auditory training package
- Comparator
- Control condition (standard care or no VR training)
Primary outcomes
Hearing abilities in bilateral cochlear implant users post-training