Assessing hearing aid performance in the "real world"

Experienced hearing aid users needed for study of new procedure
for evaluating hearing aids in the real world

2 behind the ear hearing aids Who May Participate?

We are looking for volunteers who:

Have bilateral sensorineural moderate to severe hearing loss

Are between 18 and 80 years old

Have worn 2 hearing aids for at least a year

Are willing to use only the experimental behind-the-ear hearing aids during the study

Are willing to return for 8-12 visits during the 3 months of study

Are willing to use the field evaluation unit in public environments

Summary:

We have developed a new method of evaluating hearing aid performance in the “real world.” In the current study we will evaluate whether our method of gathering information in the field provides better information about the hearing aid user’s benefit and satisfaction than standard methods of evaluation.

As part of the study, we will fit you with digital behind-the-ear hearing aids that you will wear at home for a 3-month period. Field Evaluation Unit, (shown twice - once horizontally and once held vertically) which is used to make recordings and ratings, and the headband to which environmental microphones and hearing aids area attached

During the 3 months you will be asked to return for 8-12 visits for testing that will include measures of your performance in the laboratory, and you will also take our field evaluation unit into environments you choose to rate the sound quality of the hearing aids and to collect recordings of the sound environments.

Benefits of Participation:

You will have the opportunity to use state-of-the art digital hearing aids for the duration of the study at no cost to you. Using these hearing aids for a three-month period will give you a chance to find out whether this type of hearing aid is more helpful than your current hearing aids in your daily life.

Woman using Field Evaluation Unit Hearing aids remain the property of the study and must be returned at the end of the study. If you wish, information about the hearing aid fitting will be shared with you and/or your audiologist at the end of the study.

Your participation will help to determine whether the method of evaluating hearing aids in the real world provides better information about hearing aid benefit and satisfaction than current methods.

Compensation:

You will be compensated for your time and will be reimbursed for travel expenses (roundtrip subway or bus fare) to and from test sessions.

Study is conducted at:

Bellevue Hospital
462 First Ave, Building H, 5E5
New York, NY 10016

For information or to schedule an appointment

contact Marcin Wroblewski at 212-263-8455

marcin.wroblewski@med.nyu.edu

Printable PDF flyer

This study has been approved by the Office of Institutional Board of Research Associates, NYU School of Medicine. IRB #05-419, Arlene Neuman, PhD, principal investigator.

This study is sponsored by a grant from the US Department of Education, National Institute of Disability Research and Rehabilitation.