Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

The aim of this proposed project is to understand whether direct to consumer (DTC) hearing aids programmed to individual hearing losses, can reduce listening effort for effective communication. If DTC aids can provide benefits beyond amplification, then they could be an affordable option to reduce barriers to care and improve hearing aid uptake in adults with hearing loss.


Clinical Trial Description

Hearing loss is the third most common chronic health condition in the United States, affecting individuals of any age. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders approximately 15% of all adults over age 18 in the United States have reported some trouble with their hearing, and one in eight people in the United States (about 30 million) aged 12 and older have hearing loss in both ears. However, about 28.8 million US adults who could benefit from hearing aids do not wear them. The current model of dispensing hearing aids could be a barrier to adoption by those who could benefit from amplification. Possible barriers from the current model include cost and ability to visit a hearing care professional required to purchase, adjust and repair a hearing aid. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a proposal in 2021 to make hearing care more accessible for Americans, known as the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act, part of the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017. Unlike conventional hearing aids, these devices will not require appointments to an audiologist for adjustments. Due to their affordability and easy access, DTC hearing aids have the potential to reach more individuals with hearing loss. Despite the many potential benefits that DTC hearing aids could offer, there is little research into their use to meet unique patient listening needs and the accuracy of self-guided hearing aid fittings. The investigators will evaluate the benefit of DTC hearing aids via questionnaires and a conversation task the participant engages in with a familiar speaker. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT05855005
Study type Interventional
Source Northwestern University
Contact
Status Completed
Phase N/A
Start date October 25, 2022
Completion date December 30, 2023

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Recruiting NCT04696835 - fNIRS in Pediatric Hearing Aids N/A
Completed NCT03662256 - Reducing Childhood Hearing Loss in Rural Alaska Through a Preschool Screening and Referral Process Using Mobile Health and Telemedicine N/A
Completed NCT04602780 - Evaluating the Revised WORQ in CI Users
Completed NCT03723161 - Evaluation of the Ponto Bone Anchored Hearing System in a Pediatric Atresia Population
Completed NCT05086809 - Investigation of an Updated Bone-anchored Sound Processor N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT03548779 - North Carolina Genomic Evaluation by Next-generation Exome Sequencing, 2 N/A
Completed NCT03428841 - Audiovisual Assessment After Dural Puncture During Epidural Placement in Obstetric Patients N/A
Completed NCT04559282 - Home Test of New Sound Processor N/A
Enrolling by invitation NCT03345654 - Individually-guided Hearing Aid Fitting
Completed NCT06016335 - MRI-based Synthetic CT Images of the Head and Neck N/A
Completed NCT05165121 - Comparison of Hearing Aid Fitting Outcomes Between Self-fit and Professional Fit for MDHearing Smart Hearing Aids N/A
Recruiting NCT05533840 - Establishment and Application of a New Imaging System for Otology Based on Ultra-high Resolution CT
Terminated NCT02294812 - Effects of Cognitive Training on Speech Perception N/A
Completed NCT04622059 - AUditive Direct In-utero Observation (AUDIO): Prenatal Testing of Congenital Hypoacusis N/A
Recruiting NCT02558478 - Identification of New Genes Implicated in Rare Neurosensory Diseases by Whole Exome Sequencing N/A
Withdrawn NCT02740322 - Validating the Hum Test N/A
Completed NCT01963104 - Community-Based Kiosks for Hearing Screening and Education N/A
Completed NCT01892007 - Evaluation of Cogmed Working Memory Training for Adult Hearing Aid Users N/A
Completed NCT01857661 - The Influence of the Sound Generator Combined With Conventional Amplification for Tinnitus Control: Blind Randomized Clinical Trial N/A
Withdrawn NCT01223638 - The Prevalence of Hearing Loss Among Children With Congenital Hypothyroidism N/A