Hearing Aid Settings for Hearing Loss

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen byJoshua Alexander, Ph.D.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: Purdue University

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study explores the impact of hearing aid settings for managing sudden sounds on speech comprehension and recall in individuals with hearing loss. Participants will undergo a comprehensive audiological evaluation, case history, and cognitive assessments. Subsequently, they will participate in listening experiments designed to measure sentence recognition, storage, and retrieval under various sudden sound reduction conditions recorded through a hearing aid. The experiment will be complemented by subjective preference ratings to identify participant comfort and listening clarity associated with different sudden sound reduction settings.

Research Team

Joshua Alexander, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Purdue University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals with hearing loss who can hear sounds between 25-70 dB HL from 2000 - 6000 Hz and are native English speakers. It's not suitable for those with retrocochlear hearing loss, which involves issues beyond the cochlea in the inner ear.

Inclusion Criteria

Air conduction thresholds 25-70 dB HL from 2000 - 6000 Hz

I am a native English speaker.

Exclusion Criteria

I have hearing loss not caused by ear damage.

Treatment Details

Interventions

Sudden Sound Reduction Setting (Behavioural Intervention)

Trial OverviewThe study tests how different sudden sound reduction settings on hearing aids affect speech understanding and memory. Participants will be evaluated through listening experiments to measure sentence recognition and recall, as well as subjective comfort ratings.

Participant Groups

4Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: Maxiumum Sudden Sound ReductionExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Each participant will listen to recordings of sentences processed by a hearing aid with settings for treating sudden sounds set to Maximum.

Group II: Low Sudden Sound ReductionExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Each participant will listen to recordings of sentences processed by a hearing aid with settings for treating sudden sounds set to Low.

Group III: High Sudden Sound ReductionExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Each participant will listen to recordings of sentences processed by a hearing aid with settings for treating sudden sounds set to High.

Group IV: ControlActive Control1 Intervention

Each participant will listen to recordings of sentences processed by a hearing aid with settings for treating sudden sounds set to OFF.