Högskolan i Skövde

A cochlear implant (CI) is an electronic device designed to assist individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. It captures sound through a microphone and transmits it to electrodes, which directly stimulate the auditory nerve, bypassing the damaged areas of the ear. Although considered a very successful intervention, there is large variability in the outcomes of cochlear implantation. Patient- reported issues include difficulties hearing speech in noisy environments, disappointment in sound quality and difficulties appreciating music. A period of aural rehabilitation usually follows implantation, where patients see audiologists and speech language pathologists. There is evidence supporting the use of auditory training, actively practicing listening tasks, mainly focused on speech, at a clinic or at home. One such task, often suggested by audiologists and speech language pathologists is computer-based auditory training. There are a number of game-like computer programs and apps that are recommended to patients, most of which similarly focus on speech. In recent years there has been some research on serious games specifically aimed at CI-rehabilitation. This paper presents a literature review of studies using games for auditory training in CI-rehabilitation. The aim of this paper is to investigate how the reviewed studies relate to established game design knowledge, including how they evaluate player experience. The results reveal a gap, indicating that game design as a concept is rarely reported on, and the evaluation of player experience is seldom based on established instruments. While this study focuses on a specific and cohesive research community, it highlights the need for improved standards in the utilization and reporting of game design in such studies. We propose a set of guidelines for reporting on medical studies involving games.