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.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
20
Subjects are fit with hearing aids.
VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR
Portland, Oregon, United States
Evoked potential latency
Latency will be measured in milliseconds
Time frame: Approximately 1 year
Evoked potential amplitude
Amplitude will be measured in microvolts
Time frame: Approximately 1 year
Frequency following response magnitude
Magnitude of response measured in nanovolts
Time frame: Approximately 1 year
Frequency following response timing
Timing measured by cross-correlation between stimulus and response
Time frame: Approximately 1 year
Ongoing electroencephalography power
EEG power as a function of frequency recorded during words-in-noise measure
Time frame: Approximately 1 year
Montreal Cognitive Assessment score
Assessment score from 1 to 30
Time frame: Approximately 1 year
Reading Span
Percent correct recall on working memory task
Time frame: Approximately 1 year
Hearing aid usage
Data logging from the hearing aid will provide usage in hours per day
Time frame: Approximately 1 year
Word-in-noise perception testing
Signal-to-noise ratio at which participant correctly understands 50% of speech in noise using WIN test
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: Approximately 1 year
Listening invested/required effort
Participants' rating of the effort required (0-9) and invested (0-9) for listening task
Time frame: Approximately 1 year
Working memory testing
Performance on auditory working memory task
Time frame: Approximately 1 year
Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile (GHABP)
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
Time frame: Approximately 1 year