Find a personal sound amplification device that can help people hear better.
Personal sound amplification devices (PSADs) have recently become available to the public. PSADs serve a potentially important role in providing audibility of sounds for adults who find themselves having difficulty hearing and understanding speech in some daily living situations, but may not be candidates for traditional, high-amplification hearing aids. Despite hearing loss being a very common problem, few adults who could benefit from some level of amplification actually access the technology. Only approximately 1 in 7 adults (14%) over the age of 50 with a hearing loss using amplification. High cost is the most commonly cited reason for not wanting to try amplification, and indeed, hearing aids range from $1000 to $5000 each (i.e., per ear). PSADs range from $50-$600 each, and may provide a reasonable option for people who are not ready, or are unwilling, to wear a hearing aid. This project aims to examine the feasibility of a PSAD to provide audible and clear sound signal to adult listeners. The significance of this project is its potential to develop an option for individuals to take advantage of amplification and access sound to improve quality of life, who may not otherwise do so without this technology.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
32
Personal Sound Amplification Device
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Sentence Perception in Noise Fine-tuned v Unamplified
The fine-tuned Personal Sound Amplification Device sound output will show speech perception benefit over the unamplified condition. Measure is percent of words heard correctly.
Time frame: The patient will wear the Personal Sound Amplification Device for approximately 30 minutes
Sentence Perception in Noise Initial Fit v Unamplified
The prescription gain (initial fit) Personal Sound Amplification Device sound output will show speech perception benefit over the unamplified condition. Measure is percent of words heard correctly.
Time frame: The patient will wear the Personal Sound Amplification Device for approximately 30 minutes
Words Clear
The Likert Scale rating scale measures the subject's perception of how well he/she heard both with the Personal Sound Amplification Device and without the device. The patient will rate the following questions on a scale from Strongly Disagree (0), Disagree (1), Neutral (2), Agree (3), and Strongly Agree (4) for the statement 'the words were clear.' Higher values mean better outcome.
Time frame: The patient will wear the personal sound amplification device on average for 30 minutes.
Sentences Easy to Understand
The Likert Scale rating scale measures the subject's perception of how well he/she heard both with the Personal Sound Amplification Device and without the device. The patient will rate the following questions on a scale from Strongly Disagree (0), Disagree (1), Neutral (2), Agree (3), and Strongly Agree (4) for the statement 'sentences were easy to understand.' Higher values mean better outcome.
Time frame: The patient will wear the Personal Sound Amplification Device for approximately 30 minutes
Sounds Are Distorted
The patient will rate the following questions on a scale from Strongly Disagree (0), Disagree (1), Neutral (2), Agree (3), and Strongly Agree (4) for the statement 'the words were clear.' Lower values mean better outcome.
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Time frame: The patient will wear the Personal Sound Amplification Device for approximately 30 minutes