What is the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Hearing Enhancement and what do we do?
The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Hearing Enhancement is a national project funded by the United States Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS).
The RERC on Hearing Enhancement is dedicated to conducting research that promotes technological solutions to problems confronting people with hearing loss.
Why participate in a research study?
What information will I receive if I decide to participate?
What are my rights as a participant in a research study?
How do I know which study to participate in?
Participants are currently needed for the following studies:
Washington, DC
Adults with Cochlear Implants needed for a Speech Recognition Training Program
Goal of the study: To investigate whether a special training program can help cochlear implant users with their understanding of speech.
Location: Gallaudet University, Washington, DC
New York, NY
Adults with Tinnitus to Participate in Hearing Research Study
Goals of the study: To investigate the role of the inner ear, specifically the cochlea, in the origin of tinnitus and develop improved methods in evaluating tinnitus. The study will provide increased understanding about the underlying pathology of tinnitus and aid in enhanced diagnosis and treatment strategies of tinnitus.
Location: The Graduate Center, CUNY, New York, NY
Goal of the study: To improve classroom acoustic conditions for children with cochlear implants and for children with normal hearing.
Location: NYU Cochlear Implant Center, New York, NY
Goal of the study: To better understand the requirement for designing classrooms for children of different ages.
Location: Bellevue Hospital, New York, NY
Goal of the study: To help determine whether the method of evaluating hearing aids in the real world provides better information about hearing aid benefit and satisfaction than current methods.
Location: Bellevue Hospital, New York, NY
Why participate in a research study?
Your participation in one of our studies can provide valuable insights and help us understand whether a particular treatment, technology, or approach to aural rehabilitation may be helpful to you and to other individuals with hearing loss. It is only through your involvement in these research studies that we can develop and evaluate new technology, improve communication, and provide better services for individuals who need hearing technology. Return to top of page
What information will I receive if I decide to participate?
If you decide to participate, you will be asked to sign a consent form that includes the following information:
A description of the purpose of the research
What you will be asked to do as a participant
Any risks involved
Benefits of participating
Compensation for participation Return to top of page
What are my rights as a participant in a research study?
- You have the right to receive a copy of the consent form
- You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without penalty and without pressure
All of our research studies have been reviewed by the Institutional Review Board of the facility where the study takes place. The review board ensures that the procedures used in the study are ethical and that proper protocols are followed in protecting safety and confidentiality for all participants. Return to top of page
How do I know which study to participate in?
Read the description of the purpose of the research study
Read the description of who may participate
Review what you will be asked to do as a participant Return to top of page
Return to RERC-HE Home
Copyright 2007 by the RERC on Hearing Enhancement--All Rights Reserved
This page last updated: November 29, 2007
