Use of AirPod Pros as Assistive Technology for Adults with Mild-to-Moderate Hearing Loss

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the use of AirPod Pro 2nd and 3rd generation as hearing assistive technology for adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. This study compares four types of assistive devices: hearing aids, AirPod Pros, dedicated wireless remote microphones, and Smartphone wireless remote microphones. The goal is to determine which device offers the best speech recognition in noisy environments, how they affect listening effort, and participants' preferences based on ease of understanding and satisfaction. Participants will undergo a pure-tone hearing test to confirm their hearing loss and select the best fitting ear tips for the AirPod Pro and Phonak Paradise hearing aids. Devices will be programmed individually, and real-ear measurements will verify proper amplification. Speech recognition threshold will be measured using the AirPod Pro, followed by a dual-task test with all devices to assess listening effort. Pupil size will be tracked during sentence repetition to further evaluate listening effort, and participants will complete questionnaires about their experience and device preference. The study involves a single lab session lasting approximately three hours. During this time, participants will listen to sentences with each device, repeat what they hear, and perform a secondary memory task. Reaction times and pupil diameter will be recorded to measure listening effort. Participants will also rate task difficulty and select their preferred device at the end. All measurements and questionnaires will be completed within this session to assess speech recognition and listening effort with each assistive technology.

Use of Airpod Pros as Assistive Technology