Hearing habits, hearing aid use, and social-emotional well-being
Hearing-related behavior and its relationship to hearing aid use and social-emotional health outcomes
['FUNDING_R21'] · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · NIH-11238938
We will use everyday audio recordings and brief surveys to learn how adults' hearing environments and hearing aid use relate to loneliness and mood.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R21'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (MADISON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11238938 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would carry a small audio recorder during your daily life and answer short, real-time surveys about your communication and feelings. The study measures two things: the kinds of sound environments you encounter (auditory lifestyle) and how well you can engage in conversations (communication engagement). Researchers will compare these measures with whether and how you use hearing aids and with reports of loneliness and depressive symptoms. The goal is to understand real-world hearing behavior that may influence emotional health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults (21+) with hearing loss who may or may not use hearing aids and are willing to carry a recorder and complete short surveys.
Not a fit: People without hearing loss, those unwilling to have daily audio recordings, or those unable to complete brief surveys may not directly benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help tailor hearing interventions so they better protect against loneliness and depression.
How similar studies have performed: Past studies have shown mixed results on whether hearing aids reduce loneliness or depression, and this project uses a novel real-world recording approach that is less tested.
Where this research is happening
MADISON, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON — MADISON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: JORGENSEN, ERIK JORGEN — UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- Study coordinator: JORGENSEN, ERIK JORGEN
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.