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Understanding Aided Speech Perception in Noise: Behavioral and Electrophysiological Measures
Led by University of South Florida · Updated on 2025-12-22
121
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of South Florida
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are studying age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and how it affects the ability to separate sounds in space. The study aims to understand how hearing aids with directional processing may help people with poor spatial hearing sensitivity. It compares behavioral and brain measures of spatial hearing before and after using hearing aids in older adults with hearing impairment, alongside control groups of younger and older adults with normal hearing. Participants will be tested using an open-source hearing aid device that can be set to different microphone settings: no aid, omnidirectional, fixed directional, and variable directional. The study includes two main testing groups with different noise environments. All participants undergo detailed hearing tests and measurements of spatial hearing before and after hearing aid fitting. The hearing aids are carefully programmed to match each participant's hearing profile using standard fitting procedures. During the study, participants complete multiple visits lasting about two hours each to measure speech perception, spatial hearing accuracy, and brain responses with and without hearing aids. Researchers track changes using behavioral tests like digit identification and speech localization, as well as neurophysiological measures of how the brain processes sound. The study lasts several weeks and includes thorough safety and hearing assessments to understand the benefits and challenges of hearing aid use in older adults.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Understanding Aided Speech Perception in Noise
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adults aged 18 to 35 years with normal hearing or 60 to 80 years with normal or hearing-impaired ears
- Normal hearing defined as 20 dB HL or better at octave frequencies from 0.25 to 4 kHz and 30 dB HL or better up to 8 kHz
- Hearing-impaired participants with bilateral, symmetric sensorineural hearing loss between 35 to 50 dB HL from 0.25 to 2 kHz and 50 to 70 dB HL from 3 to 8 kHz
- Candidates for hearing aids or experienced users
- Fluent English speakers
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score greater than 22
- Balanced male and female participants to assess sex as a biological variable
You will not qualify if you...
- History of head trauma, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, seizures, or other neurological disorders within the past 12 months
- Otologic surgical procedures within the past 12 months
- Actively fluctuating hearing loss
- Acute Meniere's disease or labyrinthitis
- Conductive hearing loss
- Use of ototoxic medications
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - Single visit lasting approximately 2 hours
Participants undergo baseline clinical and laboratory measures of auditory function including audiogram, loudness discomfort levels, middle ear status, acoustic reflex thresholds, and speech-in-noise tests to assess hearing status and spatial sensitivity.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - Single visit lasting approximately 2 hours
Participants complete pre-treatment behavioral tests measuring spatial sensitivity such as minimum audible angle, speech localization error, and spatial release from masking.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - Multiple sessions over roughly 2 weeks
Older hearing-impaired participants receive the intervention with the open-source master hearing aid device fitted to their audiometric profile. They are tested in multiple device conditions including unaided and aided with different microphone configurations.
Approximately 3 visits (in-person) counter-balanced across device conditions
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
USF Research Park BPB, 3802 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 210C
Tampa, Florida, United States, 33612
Actively Recruiting
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
3
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