AirPods Pro as hearing assistive technology
Official title: Use of Airpod Pros as Assistive Technology
Run by The University of Texas at Dallas · NCT06840015 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This test will see if AirPods Pro help adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss understand speech in noisy places compared with hearing aids and wireless remote microphones.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 60 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 24 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | The University of Texas at Dallas Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Richardson, Texas) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 18, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 18, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | August 10, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06840015 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18–60 with mild-to-moderate hearing loss who are fluent in English and have not used hearing aids within the past year are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People with normal hearing, hearing loss worse than moderate, neurological/psychiatric/ophthalmological conditions that affect pupil responses, or substantial prior hearing-aid experience are unlikely to benefit from this test.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This single-site interventional study will recruit 24 adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss for a single ~3-hour laboratory visit to compare four assistive-device conditions: prescription hearing aids, AirPods Pro (2nd and 3rd generation), a dedicated wireless remote microphone, and a smartphone-connected remote microphone. Devices will be fitted bilaterally, programmed to the participant's audiogram, and verified with real-ear measurements to meet NAL-NL2 targets. Speech recognition thresholds in noise will be measured using an adaptive HINT procedure, while listening effort will be indexed by dual-task reaction times and pupil-size changes; participants will also rate ease of understanding and overall satisfaction. The protocol uses standardized presentation (KEMAR mouth simulator, fixed angles for noise sources) and within-subject comparisons to determine relative benefit across devices.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, AirPods Pro could offer a lower-cost, widely available option that improves speech understanding and reduces listening effort for some people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown consumer earbuds can give modest speech-in-noise benefit for some listeners but typically do not match the performance of properly fit prescription hearing aids, whereas remote microphones reliably improve speech understanding in noise.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18 to 60 years. * Fluent English speakers. * Mild-to-moderate hearing loss confirmed by a pure-tone hearing test (average hearing threshold screening 25 to 55 dB HL across octave frequencies from 250 to 8000 Hz). * Individuals with no prior hearing aid experience for a year. Exclusion Criteria: * Normal hearing. * Hearing loss worse than moderate. * Neurological, psychiatric, or ophthalmological conditions that might alter the pupil response. * Non-fluent English speakers. * Individuals with prior hearing aid experience more than a year.
Where it's running
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Callier Center for Communication Disorders
Richardson, Texas, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Seeon Kim, Ph.D. — Callier Center for Communication Disorders
- Study coordinator: Linda Thibodeau, Ph.D.
- Email: thib@utdallas.edu
- Phone: 972-883-3108
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.