Personal Sound Amplification Smartphone Application Feasibility Study

Personal sound amplification devices (PSADs) have recently become available to the public. PSADs serve a potentially important role in providing audibility of sounds for adults who find themselves having difficulty hearing and understanding speech in some daily living situations, but may not be candidates for traditional, high-amplification hearing aids. Despite hearing loss being a very common problem, few adults who could benefit from some level of amplification actually access the technology. Only approximately 1 in 7 adults (14%) over the age of 50 with a hearing loss using amplification. High cost is the most commonly cited reason for not wanting to try amplification, and indeed, hearing aids range from $1000 to $5000 each (i.e., per ear). PSADs range from $50-$600 each, and may provide a reasonable option for people who are not ready, or are unwilling, to wear a hearing aid. This project aims to examine the feasibility of a PSAD to provide audible and clear sound signal to adult listeners. The significance of this project is its potential to develop an option for individuals to take advantage of amplification and access sound to improve quality of life, who may not otherwise do so without this technology.