Preference Comparisons for Algorithms to Hear Speech

Last updated: September 6, 2023
Sponsor: Sonova AG
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Deafness

Hearing Impairment

Hearing Loss

Treatment

hearing aid - standard program

hearing aid -novel program

Clinical Study ID

NCT05561335
5251
  • Ages 18-99
  • All Genders
  • Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Summary

Twenty people with hearing impairment will be tested and fitted binaurally with hearing aids. During a real-world listening situation, each participant will be asked to compare one program with a novel algorithm to one with a standard microphone configuration. They will provide ratings on a range of outcome measures including overall preference and awareness of background noise. Overall and specific preferences for the different programs/algorithms will be determined by their subjective responses to determine if there is a significant difference between the two programs.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria: Subjects fulfilling all of the following inclusion criteria are eligible for theinvestigation:

  • Including adults with sensorineural mild to moderate-severe hearing loss
  • hearing aid experience (greater than 6 months)
  • who are able to complete the task in English.
  • Language: Can speak and understand English Fluently Hearing loss within the fitting ranges of the investigational products.
  • Healthy outer ear.
  • Ability to understand instructions.
  • Ability to describe listening experiences.
  • Ability to fill out questionnaires.
  • Informed consent as documented by signature.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • The presence of any one of the following exclusion criteria will lead to the exclusion ofthe subject:
  • Contraindications to the MD in this study (e.g. known hypersensitivity or allergy tothe investigational product).
  • Limited mobility and not able to attend to appointments or not able to go in a car.
  • Reported symptoms of vertigo and dizziness by subject.
  • Severe Tinnitus

Study Design

Total Participants: 20
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: hearing aid - standard program
Phase:
Study Start date:
March 21, 2023
Estimated Completion Date:
October 31, 2023

Study Description

People with hearing loss/impairment often have difficulty not only hearing certain sounds (e.g., environmental and speech sounds) but also listening in certain situations such as those where noise competes with speech. This is a common situation in people's real life conversations and one which different hearing instrument algorithms could facilitate.

This study will investigate the listening preferences of people with hearing impairment while wearing hearing aids. They will listen to speech in a situation which is commonly reported as difficult for people who wear hearing aids. Participants will wear one set of hearing aids set to their hearing loss with two programs providing these different algorithms. By having the participants toggle (with a remote control) back and forth between algorithms designed for these real-life difficult listening situations, they can rate their preferences and listening experiences.

Of particular interest, in addition to overall preference, are ratings of the background noise, listening effort and annoyance of artefacts.

Connect with a study center

  • Western University

    London, Ontario N6G 1G9
    Canada

    Active - Recruiting

Map preview placeholder

Not the study for you?

Let us help you find the best match. Sign up as a volunteer and receive email notifications when clinical trials are posted in the medical category of interest to you.