Personal Sound Amplification Smartphone Application Feasibility

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Find a personal sound amplification device that can help people hear better.

Detailed Description
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Personal sound amplification devices (PSADs) have recently become available to the public. PSADs serve a potentially important role in providing audibility of sounds for adults who find themselves having difficulty hearing and understanding speech in some daily living situations, but may not be candidates for traditional, high-amplification hearing aids. Despite hearing loss being a very common problem, few adults who could benefit from some level of amplification actually access the technology. Only approximately 1 in 7 adults (14%) over the age of 50 with a hearing loss using amplification. High cost is the most commonly cited reason for not wanting to try amplification, and indeed, hearing aids range from $1000 to $5000 each (i.e., per ear). PSADs range from $50-$600 each, and may provide a reasonable option for people who are not ready, or are unwilling, to wear a hearing aid. This project aims to examine the feasibility of a PSAD to provide audible and clear sound signal to adult listeners. The significance of this project is its potential to develop an option for individuals to take advantage of amplification and access sound to improve quality of life, who may not otherwise do so without this technology.

Official Title
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Personal Sound Amplification Smartphone Application Feasibility Study

Conditions
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Hearing Loss

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Ascending Hearing Technologies device


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Adults who report difficulty hearing in some daily listening situations. Primarily English-speaking Able to follow instructions and perform study procedures. Exclusion Criteria: Children Non-English speaking Unable to perform research procedures and/or follow necessary instructions

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Adults with difficulty hearing in some daily listening situations<br>Patients listen to sounds with and without the personal sound amplification smartphone application | Device: Ascending Hearing Technologies device<br>* Personal Sound Amplification Device<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sentence Perception in Noise Fine-tuned v Unamplified | The fine-tuned Personal Sound Amplification Device sound output will show speech perception benefit over the unamplified condition. Measure is percent of words heard correctly. | The patient will wear the Personal Sound Amplification Device for approximately 30 minutes | 
| Sentence Perception in Noise Initial Fit v Unamplified | The prescription gain (initial fit) Personal Sound Amplification Device sound output will show speech perception benefit over the unamplified condition. Measure is percent of words heard correctly. | The patient will wear the Personal Sound Amplification Device for approximately 30 minutes | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Words Clear | The Likert Scale rating scale measures the subject's perception of how well he/she heard both with the Personal Sound Amplification Device and without the device. The patient will rate the following questions on a scale from Strongly Disagree (0), Disagree (1), Neutral (2), Agree (3), and Strongly Agree (4) for the statement 'the words were clear.' Higher values mean better outcome. | The patient will wear the personal sound amplification device on average for 30 minutes. | 
| Sentences Easy to Understand | The Likert Scale rating scale measures the subject's perception of how well he/she heard both with the Personal Sound Amplification Device and without the device. The patient will rate the following questions on a scale from Strongly Disagree (0), Disagree (1), Neutral (2), Agree (3), and Strongly Agree (4) for the statement 'sentences were easy to understand.' Higher values mean better outcome. | The patient will wear the Personal Sound Amplification Device for approximately 30 minutes | 
| Sounds Are Distorted | The patient will rate the following questions on a scale from Strongly Disagree (0), Disagree (1), Neutral (2), Agree (3), and Strongly Agree (4) for the statement 'the words were clear.' Lower values mean better outcome. | The patient will wear the Personal Sound Amplification Device for approximately 30 minutes |