Phone-based hearing and thinking check using spoken numbers
Efficient estimation of auditory sensitivity and cognitive status using spoken-digit tests.
This project creates phone apps that use spoken numbers to quickly check hearing and thinking skills for adults who worry about hearing loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Communication Disorders Technology, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bloomington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10893392 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will build short tests that play three-digit number sequences in background noise on smartphones and tablets so you can try them at home. Your ability to hear the digits will estimate hearing sensitivity, while specific test versions will help separate hearing problems from slower cognitive processing. The apps are designed to be fast, inexpensive, and to work without a sound booth or a specialist. If made widely available, these tests could let many people screen themselves and decide if they need a formal hearing or cognitive follow-up.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults—especially people 55 and older—who notice trouble hearing or understanding speech in noisy places, or who want a quick hearing/cognitive check on their phone.
Not a fit: Young children, people without access to a smartphone, or those who already have a recent, detailed clinical hearing evaluation may not benefit from this screening tool.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tests could help people detect hearing problems earlier, identify whether difficulties come from hearing or thinking, and guide them to the right care.
How similar studies have performed: Digit-in-noise tests, including the National Hearing Test, have previously shown strong correlation with standard hearing tests and been used successfully for convenient screening.
Where this research is happening
Bloomington, United States
- Communication Disorders Technology, INC — Bloomington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kidd, Gary R — Communication Disorders Technology, INC
- Study coordinator: Kidd, Gary R
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.