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. 2016 Aug 18;2016(8):CD010342. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010342.pub3

Sweetow 2006.

Methods Randomised cross‐over trial
Participants N = 65 across 5 sites
Age: range ‐ trained 28 to 85 (average 63.15); control 32 to 82 (average 64.2 years)
Interventions Home‐based interactive PC‐based program (Listening and Communication Enhancement LACE)
30 minutes 5 times a week for 4 weeks
Outcomes Short‐term: 4 weeks ‐ QuickSIN, Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) (SPEECH PERCEPTION), HHIE/A (HANDICAP), Communication Scale for Older Adults (COMMUNICATION)
Notes Group 2 cross‐over arm – as there were no significant differences between group 1 and cross‐over arm of group 2 they pooled the data for these groups meaning we cannot use the data. Also data from HA users mixed with non‐users. This means that the data from this study have not been included in any meta‐analysis
Outcomes for a 'subset' of participants – not clear how this set was decided on
Risk of bias
Bias Authors' judgement Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias) Unclear risk No details of sequence generation
Allocation concealment (selection bias) Unclear risk No details of randomisation protocol
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) 
 All outcomes High risk This study was not blinded due to the nature of the intervention
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) 
 All outcomes High risk No apparent blinding of outcome assessment
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) 
 All outcomes High risk Some confusion over numbers for how many started and completed in each group. N is stated as 65 but this is not the number randomised – it is the number who completed. Number randomised is unclear
Selective reporting (reporting bias) Unclear risk No protocol available
Other bias High risk Participants at one of the sites were paid
Data not available separately for users versus non‐users, for different sites or for the 2 arms of the trial
The authors have a financial interest in the company that produces the intervention LACE