Hearing Aids and the Brain

Hearing aids are being fit on inexperienced hearing aid users and the short-term and long-term effects are measured. This research aims to improve understanding of the individual factors that contribute to receiving benefit from hearing aids and lead to more individualized treatment of hearing loss.

Hearing aids are used to improve audibility for patients with hearing loss and improve speech perception. In addition to these immediate benefits, amplification has the potential to have long-term effects on higher level auditory processing abilities, such as cognition or other abilities required for complex listening tasks. These long-term acclimatization effects are not well understood and merit further behavioral and physiological examination. Hearing aids will be fit on inexperienced hearing aid users and outcome measures will be used to determine immediate and long-term effects of hearing aids. This research may provide a more detailed view of individual differences that contribute to receiving benefit from a hearing aid and may lead to more individualized treatment of hearing loss.

Signal-to-noise ratio at which participant correctly understands 50% of speech in noise using WIN test

Participants rating on five-point scale their perceived initial (i.e., unaided) hearing disability, initial handicap, aided benefit, aided handicap, HA use and HA satisfaction in four listening situations

Inclusion Criteria: 50 years of age or older Bilateral, mild to moderately severe hearing loss Inexperienced hearing aid users Exclusion Criteria: Subject deciding that they do not wish to wear hearing aids as necessitated per study protocol Audiometric thresholds that suggest research stimuli would not be audible Conductive hearing loss and/or other significant ear or hearing problems Non-native English speakers Conditions or circumstances that would preclude a participant from wearing hearing aids consistently or finishing the study An inability to perform or complete the experimental tasks