Improving hearing in noisy environments for hearing aid users
Official title: Improving Spatial Perception and Speech Understanding in Multitalker Mixtures
Run by Boston University Charles River Campus · NCT05260307 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing different ways to help hearing aid users understand speech better in noisy places and see how different hearing aid styles affect their ability to hear sounds around them.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 220 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Boston University Charles River Campus Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 9, 2022 |
| Main results expected | November 30, 2026 |
| Study ends | November 30, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | September 28, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05260307 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 to 80 with documented sensorineural hearing loss or normal hearing.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are non-native English speakers may not benefit from this study due to language comprehension requirements.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study investigates various methods to enhance spatial perception and speech intelligibility for hearing-aid users in multitalker situations. It includes three main aims: evaluating different amplification strategies for high-frequency audibility, exploring a speech enhancement algorithm's effects on spatial hearing, and assessing how different hearing-aid styles influence sound externalization. The study will involve both normal-hearing and hearing-impaired subjects across multiple experiments to determine the effectiveness of these approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could significantly improve the ability of hearing-aid users to understand speech in noisy environments.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise in improving speech intelligibility and spatial hearing in similar contexts, suggesting this approach may yield beneficial results.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Normal-Hearing Subjects * 18 to 35 years of age * Audiometric thresholds that do not exceed 20 dB HL at any frequency from 250 to 8000 Hz * Able to provide informed consent and understand experimental instructions * Normal or corrected-to-normal vision Inclusion Criteria: Hearing-Impaired Subjects * 18 to 80 years of age * Documented sensorineural hearing loss * Able to provide informed consent and understand experimental instructions * Normal or corrected-to-normal vision Exclusion Criteria (some experiments) * Non-native speakers of English
Where it's running
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Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Virginia A Best, PhD — Boston University
- Study coordinator: Virginia A Best, PhD
- Email: ginbest@bu.edu
- Phone: (617) 353-2622
Similar studies
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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.