Use of Frequency Compression in Severe-profound Hearing Loss Adults

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Frequency Compression; Severe-profound Hearing Impairment

• Registration Number: NCT04623112
• Lead Sponsor: University College, London

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the functional benefits of frequency compression vs no frequency compression or fitted to hearing loss in severe-profound hearing impaired adults with high frequency hearing losses. Thus, assessing whether hearing aids for this patient population can be adapted to improve speech perception.

Detailed Description

Frequency compression is a feature available on some digital hearing aids, which is aimed at increasing the audibility of high frequency sounds. It works by taking sounds above a fixed start frequency and compresses it into lower frequencies where residual hearing is better.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-04
• Primary Completion: 2015-06
• Study Completion: 2015-06
• Status Verified: 2020-11
• Study First Submitted: 2020-11-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-11-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-11-09
• Study First Posted: 2020-11-10
• Last Update Posted: 2020-11-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 27

Inclusion Criteria

1. Participants must be over 18 years of age- This study is looking at the use of frequency compression & its effects of speech perception in adults.
2. No ear surgery that would make it impossible to fit a hearing aid- To ensure limited confounding variables.
3. No history of ear surgery within the last 12 months- To ensure limited confounding variables.
4. No history of ear infection(s) within the last 6 months- To ensure no contraindications and limited confounding variables to testing.
5. No otoscopic abnormality making it impossible to fit a hearing aid- To ensure no contraindications to testing.
6. Bilateral severe-profound hearing impairment with air conduction thresholds >71dBHL within the frequency range of 250Hz to 4 kHz- To analyse the effects of frequency compression on speech perception within this patient population.
7. Post lingual deafness, with good spoken English- To ensure reliability of speech testing.
8. Previous bilateral digital hearing aid experience (6+ months)- To ensure limited confounding variables.
9. Written consent required.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Participants under the age of 18 years.
2. History of ear surgery making it impossible to fit a hearing aid.
3. History of ear surgery within the last 12 months.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Adaptive Bamford-Kowal-Bench Test	4 weeks post hearing aid fitting with adapted hearing aid feature	Aided Sentence Test
CHEAR Auditory Perception Test	4 weeks post hearing aid fitting with adapted hearing aid feature	Aided Monosyllabic Speech Test