The Apple Hearing Study is a partnership between the University of Michigan and Apple to study sound exposure and its impact on hearing health. This groundbreaking study will advance the understanding of how hearing could be impacted over time by exposure to sound at certain levels. The investigators will measure headphone and environmental sound exposures over time among participants, and determine how these exposures impact hearing and stress levels. US residents who own an iPhone, download the Apple Research app and consent to participate will be randomly assigned to two groups, one with a "Basic" user interface in the Research app, and one with an "Advanced" user interface. Users in the "Advanced" group will receive additional information about their exposures and be given additional surveys and hearing tests based on their music and environmental sound exposures. The study will provide investigators with a better understanding of listening behavior and its overall impact on hearing health. This information will in turn help guide public health policy and prevention programs designed to protect and promote hearing health in the US and globally.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
300,000
University of Michigan School of Public Health
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
RECRUITINGHeadphone audio level patterns
For the entire cohort over various timeframes
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup at 10 years
Difference in Headphone Audio Level patterns
This will include assessment of sound pressure level and time at baseline and over the duration of the study.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup at 10 years
Association between Headphone Audio Level patterns and Pure Tone Audiometry
Analysis will occur for each tested frequency (dB HL at 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, 4kHz, and 8 kHz assessed for both ears) for both ears at baseline and over the duration of the study.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup at 10 years
Association between Headphone Audio Level patterns and Speech in Noise
Analysis will assess the speech recognition threshold and it's relationships with HAL at baseline and over the duration of the study
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup at 10 years
Association between Headphone Audio Level patterns and tinnitus matching
At baseline and over the duration of the study
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup at 10 years
Association between general health and individual characteristics and sound levels and/or audiometry tasks
Headphone Audio Levels will be assessed as the sound level and the audiometry tasks assessed will be Pure Tone Audiometry, Speech in Noise, and tinnitus matching
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years
Change from baseline to final audiometry
Including both Pure Tone Audiometry and Speech in Noise
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years
Change from baseline in abbreviated Pure Tone Audiometry following high headphone audio level notification
This comparison will occur for two frequencies (1 kHz and 4 kHz for both ears) within 24 hours of acute loud Headphone Audio Level exposure (LEQ equivalent to \>97 dBA for \>30 minutes)
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years
Headphone Audio Level association with baseline survey questions
This will includes questions about typical headphone us, typical environmental exposures, and hearing ability.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years
Baseline Audiometry association with baseline survey questions
Baseline Audiometry includes both Pure Tone Audiometry and Speech in Noise. Survey questions include those regarding typical headphone use, typical environmental exposures, and hearing ability.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years
Final Audiometry association with end-of-study survey questions
Final Audiometry includes Pure Tone Audiometry and Speech in Noise. The end-of-study survey questions include typical headphone use, typical environmental exposures, and hearing ability.
Time frame: At the end of followup after 10 years
Change in survey questions
Survey questions regarding exposure changes over the course of the study
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years
Association between hearing ability and changes in hearing health and related health conditions
Hearing ability is evaluated both as perceived and evaluated. Changes in hearing health include audiometry and tinnitus. Related health conditions include items such as cognition, sleep, mental health, activity, mobility, and more.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years
Descriptive assessment of participant use and experience
Experience with hearing related tools and device
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years
Difference in Environmental Sound Level Patterns
Including sound pressure level and time at baseline and over the duration of the study. This outcome is only among participants that use Apple Watch.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years
Association between Headphone Audio Levels and Environmental Sound Level patterns
This outcome is only among participants that use Apple Watch.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years
Association between Environmental Sound Level patterns and Pure Tone Audiometry.
At baseline and over the duration of the study. This outcome is only among Participants that use Apple Watch.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years
Association between Environmental Sound Level patterns and Speech in Noise
At baseline and over the duration of the study. This outcome is only among Participants that use Apple Watch.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years
Association between Environmental Sound Level patterns and tinnitus matching task
At baseline and over the duration of the study. This outcome is only among Participants that use Apple Watch.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years
Association between general health and personal characteristics and sound levels and hearing tasks
Sound levels include Environmental Sound Levels. Hearing tasks includes Pure Tone Audiometry, Speech in Noise, and Tinnitus matching. This outcome is only among Participants that use Apple Watch.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years
Change from baseline in abbreviated Pure Tone Audiometry following loud environmental noise notification
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
This assessment will be for two frequencies (1 kHz and 4 kHz for both ears) tested within 24 hours of acute loud Environmental Sound Level exposure (LEQ equivalent to \>97 dBA for \>30 minutes). This outcome is only among Participants that use Apple Watch.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years
Assess reported participant experience
Experience will be assessed via survey delivered with a notification after a prolonged loud environmental sound level exposure (LEQ equivalent to \>80 dBA for \>40 hours). This outcome is only among Participants that use Apple Watch.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years
Association between heart rate measures and Headphone Audio Level patterns
This will include heart rate during activity (as assessed by logged Workouts and Active Energy trends by Watch). This outcome is only among participants that use Apple Watch.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years
Association between heart rate measures and Environmental Sound Level patterns
This includes heart rate during activity (as assessed by logged Workouts and Active Energy trends by Watch). This outcome is only among participants that use Apple Watch.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of followup after 10 years