Optimisation of Hearing Aid Fitting
Condition: Hearing Loss; Hearing Abnormality
MeSH terms: Hearing Loss; Deafness; Congenital Abnormalities
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      This study aims to explore if objective brain responses to speech stimuli (words and running
      speech) can be used to evaluate hearing aid fitting in adults. Objective brain responses
      would be beneficial, as they could be used to evaluate hearing with people who are incapable
      or unwilling to provide subjective responses. The study aims to determine if EEG responses to
      speech sounds are sensitive to the effects of hearing aids for hearing aid users. Secondary,
      the study will look into the need for using speech stimuli in order to obtain more robust
      responses compared to current clinical standards.
    

Detailed description: 
      The research questions addressed are as follows

        1. Are speech-evoked objective brain responses sensitive to hearing aid amplification?

        2. Are speech-evoked brain responses sensitive to distortions in speech and can hearing aid
           amplification resolve issues with brain responses to distorted speech?

        3. Which tests are optimal for detection of objective brain responses to speech?

        4. Are realistic speech stimuli (words or running speech) able to robustly detect brain
           responses compared to current clinical standards (clicks and tones)? The study will be
           carried out on a group of mildly to moderately hearing impaired subjects between the age
           of 18 and 70. Subjects will be recruited from the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust,
           where the research will be conducted. Participants will have their hearing function and
           hearing aid fitting checked as described in the design and methodology section of this
           proposal. During the experiment, participants will be asked to listen to speech sounds
           presented from a loudspeaker at comfortable listening levels. The responses will be
           measured with the participant wearing and not wearing hearing aids. Additionally,
           participants will perform a behavioural task for perception of speech. Participants will
           be asked to attend 2 sessions of 2 hours. Data collection will run over 1 year.
    

Intervention name(s): Objective speech response detection
Intervention type(s): Diagnostic Test
Intervention description(s): Changes in brain activity when a speech stimulus is presented will be measured using electro-encephalography (EEG)
Observational model: Cohort
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Subjects will be included if they are between 18 and 70 years old, are native English
        speakers and have mild to moderate hearing loss in their better ear measured using current
        clinical standards. They will be identified from their medical records of the Royal
        Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust by the Co-Investigators who are trained and qualified
        clinical audiologists at the Trust. Subjects will be routine hearing aid users.
      
Keywords: Hearing Loss; Hearing Abnormality