Study of Hearing Effects in Adults Using Remote Conferencing and Sound Compression Technologies

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying the effects of exposure to manipulated sounds, such as compressed, filtered, or equalized audio, on the hearing of people who regularly encounter these sounds in their professional or educational settings. The study focuses on two groups those with high exposure through professional broadcasting activities over the past three years, and those with moderate to limited exposure, such as students attending distance learning courses with videoconferencing for up to two years. The goal is to understand how these sound manipulations impact auditory perception. The study involves monitoring participants hearing through various audiological assessments, including video otoscopy, tympanometry, high-frequency audiometry, and both objective and subjective hearing tests. Participants also provide self-assessments of their hearing skills, tinnitus, hyperacusis, and the quality of sounds they hear during exposure. These tests are conducted before and after exposure to manipulated sounds, with follow-up visits to evaluate changes over a two-week period. Participants will undergo detailed hearing evaluations, including pure tone audiometry across a range of frequencies, measurements of protective auditory reflexes, and tinnitus assessments. They also complete questionnaires on their hearing experience and sound quality perceptions. The study tracks auditory thresholds and reflex effectiveness to assess any changes related to sound exposure. This observational study lasts about two weeks and includes multiple hearing tests and self-assessments to monitor participants auditory health.

Users of Remote Conferencing and Compression of Sound Dynamics : Auditory Effects