Comparison of PSAPs in Different Maskers

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Auditory Perception
• Interventions: Device: Tweak Focus; Device: Sound World Solutions CS50+; Device: IQ Earbuds; Device: Bose Hearphones

• Registration Number: NCT03704142
• Lead Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Brief Summary

This study will measure the performance of three personal amplification devices when used by middle-aged adults. Speech understanding will be assessed with two different types of background noises at three different input levels.

Detailed Description

Speech understanding will be measured both unaided and aided with three different models of Personal Amplification devices (PSAPs). Sentences will be played to the participant from a loudspeaker located in front. Different types of background sounds (noise and other sentences) will be played from loudspeakers located to the right and left of the participant. Participants will be instructed to repeat back the sentence coming from the front. They also will rate subjective effort at the end of each block of trials.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2018-09-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-10-09
• Study First Posted: 2018-10-12
• Study Start: 2019-03-01
• Primary Completion: 2020-03-30
• Study Completion: 2020-03-30
• Results First Submitted: 2021-10-12
• Status Verified: 2022-02
• Results First Submitted QC: 2022-02-28
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-02-28
• Results First Posted: 2022-05-17
• Last Update Posted: 2022-05-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 48

Inclusion Criteria

• mild high-frequency hearing loss (pure-tone thresholds of 25 decibels hearing loss - 45 decibels hearing loss between 2000 Hz and 6000 Hz)

Exclusion Criteria

• history of prior hearing aid use
• history of neurologic or otologic disorders
• score of < 26 on Montreal Cognitive Assessment (cognitive screening tool)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Tweak Focus	Tweak Focus	Speech understanding and listening effort will be assessed using the Tweak Focus personal sound amplifiers.
Sound World Solutions CS50+	Sound World Solutions CS50+	Speech understanding and listening effort will be assessed using the Sound World Solutions CS50+ personal sound amplifiers.
IQ Earbuds	IQ Earbuds	Speech understanding and listening effort will be assessed using the IQEarbuds personal sound amplifiers.
Bose Hearphones	Bose Hearphones	Speech understanding and listening effort will be assessed using the Sound World Solutions CS50+ personal sound amplifiers.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Comparison of How Four Models of Personal Listening Devices Improve Word Understanding in Noise	One 2-hour lab session	Improvement in performance on speech perception task using the Nuheara IQ Buds, Tweak Focus, Bose Hearphones, or the Sound World Solutions CS 50+ personal listening devices, measured by percentage of words accurately recalled in noise with device minus percentage recalled without device. Positive values indicate improvement in performance.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Difference in Self-rated Listening Effort	One 2-hour session	Effect of listening devices on subjective listening effort, measured by rating on ten-point scale (10 = greatest amount of effort) after task performed with device minus rating after task performed without device. Lower scores indicate less listening effort; negative values indicate reduction in effort with device.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Massachusetts Amherst; 🇺🇸 Amherst, Massachusetts, United States