Effectiveness of Hearing-aid Based Wind-noise Algorithm

NCT00738244 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 2R44DC007246-02A2R44DC007246
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Wind-noise is highly disturbing to hearing impaired individuals wearing hearing aids who wish to participate in outdoor conversations where wind is present or during activities such as walking or running. In these situations, wind noise significantly reduces signal-to-noise ratio and, consequently, the intelligibility of speech and sounds may be significantly impaired. This negative effect is exacerbated with the use of directional microphone schemes in the hearing iads. The objective of this project is to determine the efficacy of the MH Acoustics' multi-microphone wind-noise reduction invention for the digital hearing aids market. MH Acoustics' wind noise reduction technology is unique since it provides instantaneous convergence while maintaining directionality of the microphone array. Current commercial technologies do not provide this feature. We are hypothesizing that, due to the design of the algorithm, speech perception ability and sound quality perception will be better than that available with traditional directional and/or omnidirectional microphone schemes in windy environments.

Conditions

Hearing Impairment

Keywords

hearing aid algorithm; wind-noise suppression

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Speech Perception as measured by the Connected Speech Test (Cox et al)

  Each of three follow-up visits

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Sound Quality

  Each of three follow-up visits

Study Arms (2)

1

Normal hearing listeners

2

Listeners with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Two groups (30 each) of subjects will be recruited to participate: Normal hearing adults and adults with mild to moderately severe hearing loss, ages 18-65. Pure tone audiometrics (re ANSI, 1996) will be done to ascertain the hearing sensitivity through 6ooo Hz. Normal hearing will be defined as thresholds at or better than 20 dB HL (re ANSI, 1996). The only exclusion criterion for the group exhibiting hearing loss is that no thresholds up to and including 3000 Hz will exceed 75 dB, so as to minimize the inclusion of subjects with "dead regions" in the cochlea.

You may qualify if:

• Ages 18-75
• Normal or mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss

You may not qualify if:

• Thresholds in excess of 75 dB HL

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Iowa: lead
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Wendell Johnson Center, University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Hearing Loss

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hearing Disorders; Ear Diseases; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Sensation Disorders; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Ruth A Bentler, PhD

  University of Iowa

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CROSSOVER
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 18, 2008
• First Posted: August 20, 2008
• Study Start: November 1, 2007
• Primary Completion: November 1, 2009
• Study Completion: November 1, 2009
• Last Updated: September 26, 2011

Record last verified: 2011-09

Locations

US (1)