Hearing Aid Processing and Working Memory in Realistic Spatial Conditions
DIRWDRCWM
Investigating the Relationship Between Directional Microphones, Compression, and Working Memory in Realistic Spatial Conditions.
2 other identifiers
interventional
42
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The goal of this project is to determine whether the selection of hearing aid settings should be based in part on an individual's cognitive characteristics (specifically, working memory). We anticipate the outcomes of this study to be applicable to realistic listening conditions.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable
Started May 2021
Typical duration for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
August 17, 2020
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
August 20, 2020
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
May 6, 2021
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
June 29, 2023
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
June 29, 2023
CompletedResults Posted
Study results publicly available
September 15, 2025
CompletedSeptember 15, 2025
September 1, 2025
2.1 years
August 17, 2020
June 26, 2024
September 11, 2025
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Speech Intelligibility (Percent Correct Scores)
Listeners will listen to and repeat recorded low-context sentences mixed with noise from different spatial locations. Speech intelligibility will be measured immediately following hearing aid fitting. Scoring is determined by percentage of words repeated correctly. Scores range from 0-100% (higher score indicates better performance). This task may take up to 1-2 visits (\~ 2 hours each) for different combinations of hearing aid features. The device will only be worn in the laboratory for the duration of the experimental task and will be retrieved by the investigator at the end of each visit.
~20 mins for each intervention over the course of 1-2 days
Study Arms (4)
Setting 1
EXPERIMENTALHearing aid features presented in this arm include omnidirectional microphone settings and fast-acting compression
Setting 2
EXPERIMENTALHearing aid features presented in this arm include omnidirectional microphone settings and slow-acting compression
Setting 3
EXPERIMENTALHearing aid features presented in this arm include directional microphone settings and fast-acting compression
Setting 4
EXPERIMENTALHearing aid features presented in this arm include directional microphone settings and slow-acting compression
Interventions
Settings in a wearable hearing aid will be adjusted within a clinically-relevant range for two features. The features include wide dynamic range compression and microphone directionality.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- \> =18 years of age; any sex
- Sensorineural hearing loss with pure-tone thresholds between 25-70 decibel hearing level (dB HL) at octave frequencies between 250 and 3000 Hz
- Speak English as their primary language
- Normal or corrected-to-normal vision (\<=20/50)
- Participants will be in good health (self-report)
You may not qualify if:
- Clinically significant unstable or progressive medical conditions
- Participants who score \< 23 on the cognitive screening test (Montreal Cognitive Assessment)
- Evidence of conductive hearing loss or middle ear issues
- Significant history of otologic or neurologic disorders
- Evidence of significant asymmetry between ears
- Non-English-speaking or non-native English speaking
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
Related Publications (1)
Rallapalli V, Freyman R, Souza P. Relationship Between Working Memory, Compression, and Beamformers in Ideal Conditions. Ear Hear. 2025 Mar-Apr 01;46(2):523-536. doi: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000001605. Epub 2024 Nov 6.
PMID: 39620655DERIVED
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Limitations and Caveats
Listeners were tested on the same day as the hearing aid fitting and were not provided with time to acclimate to the different settings. Experience with the different hearing aid settings could affect the role of working memory in speech understanding with hearing aids.
Results Point of Contact
- Title
- Varsha Rallapalli
- Organization
- Northwestern University
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Varsha Rallapalli, AuD, PhD
Northwestern University
Publication Agreements
- PI is Sponsor Employee
- Yes
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Masking Details
- The participant will be blinded to the hearing aid features being adjusted. The order of presentation of the hearing aid features will be randomized across participants, using a Latin-Square design. The outcomes assessor(s) (who score speech intelligibility) will also be blinded to the conditions.
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- FACTORIAL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Professor
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
August 17, 2020
First Posted
August 20, 2020
Study Start
May 6, 2021
Primary Completion
June 29, 2023
Study Completion
June 29, 2023
Last Updated
September 15, 2025
Results First Posted
September 15, 2025
Record last verified: 2025-09
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share