NCT06420037

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to optimize hearing aid benefit based on the individual auditory-cognitive need using different hearing aid features in first-time hearing aid users between 45-80 years old with bilateral Phonak Audéo Paradise/Lumity 70/90 hearing aids. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does cognitive functioning affect hearing aid benefit? How can hearing aid fitting be optimized based on the individual auditory-cognitive profile? The hypothesis posits that cognitive abilities influence the effectiveness of hearing aids, alongside hearing status. Furthermore, if features of hearing aids improve speech understanding and listening effort, it is proposed that individuals with lower cognitive functioning will experience heightened benefits from hearing aids. The study will consist of three groups: one control group and two groups where one different feature will be modified. Participants will be tested at baseline measurement, including:

  • screening tests
  • audiological tests
  • questionnaires
  • cognitive tests
  • real-ear-measurement Following this, participants will be divided in one of the three groups, after which speech audiometry will be repeated. After a 4-week acclimatization period, the second measurement will take place, repeating speech audiometry and questionnaires. Subsequently, the hearing aid settings will be restored to their initial configuration.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
32

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Nov 2023

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

November 1, 2023

Completed
6 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

April 16, 2024

Completed
1 month until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 17, 2024

Completed
5 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

October 4, 2024

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

October 4, 2024

Completed
Last Updated

November 18, 2025

Status Verified

November 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

11 months

First QC Date

April 16, 2024

Last Update Submit

November 14, 2025

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Speech reception threshold

    Based on the results of the speech understanding task, the speech reception threshold will give an indication of the ability to understand spoken sentences in quiet and noise.

    This outcome measure will be assessed twice during the initial measurement (both +/- 10 minutes) and once during the second measurement (+/- 10 minutes).

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • Hearing related quality of life

    This outcome parameter will be assessed twice: once during the initial measurement and once during the subsequent measurement (both +/- 10 minutes).

  • Fatigue assessment

    This outcome parameter will be assessed twice: once during the initial measurement and once during the subsequent measurement (both +/- 5 minutes).

  • Effort assessment

    This outcome parameter will be assessed twice: once during the initial measurement and once during the subsequent measurement (both +/- 5 minutes).

  • Cognitive functioning (auditory and visual)

    These outcome measures will be assessed once during the first measurement (+/- 55 minutes).

  • Real ear measurement

    This outcome measure will be assessed once during the first measurement (+/- 15-20 minutes).

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (3)

Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (control group)

OTHER

Within this control group, no changes will be made to the hearing aid settings. However, they undergo all other tests of the test protocol.

Behavioral: Cognitive screening and vision screeningBehavioral: Audiological AssessmentBehavioral: QuestionnairesBehavioral: CognitionOther: Real ear measurement

Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (frequency compression)

EXPERIMENTAL

Within this experimental group, a slight modification (which differs between groups) will be made to the basic hearing aid setting.

Device: Hearing aid feature adjustment (frequency compression) of the following hearing aids: Phonak Audéo Paradise/Lumity 70Behavioral: Cognitive screening and vision screeningBehavioral: Audiological AssessmentBehavioral: QuestionnairesBehavioral: CognitionOther: Real ear measurement

Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (noise reduction)

EXPERIMENTAL

Within this experimental group, a slight modification (which differs between groups) will be made to the basic hearing aid setting.

Device: Hearing aid feature adjustment (noise reduction) of the following hearing aids: Phonak Audéo Paradise/Lumity 70Behavioral: Cognitive screening and vision screeningBehavioral: Audiological AssessmentBehavioral: QuestionnairesBehavioral: CognitionOther: Real ear measurement

Interventions

Upon enrollment, each participant will be allocated to one of three research groups and participants will remain unaware of their group assignment. This groups will undergo a slight modification, namely frequency compression turned off, to the basic setting.

Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (frequency compression)

Upon enrollment, each participant will be allocated to one of three research groups and participants will remain unaware of their group assignment. This groups will undergo a slight modification, namely noise reduction turned off, to the basic setting.

Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (noise reduction)

The Dutch Montreal Cognitive Assessment will be assessed. The Snellen Eye Test will be used to screen for normal or corrected-to-normal vision.

Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (control group)Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (frequency compression)Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (noise reduction)

Three audiological tests are included: 1) Tympanometry to assess the middle ear status, 2) Pure-tone audiometry with headphone to evaluate the hearing thresholds, 3) Speech audiometry in free field to assess the ability to understand spoken sentences in quiet and in the presence of background noise.

Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (control group)Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (frequency compression)Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (noise reduction)
QuestionnairesBEHAVIORAL

Three questionnaires are included: 1. The HAVICOP questionnaire to assess the hearing-related quality of life (Ceuleers, D., Baudonck, N., Keppler, H., Kestens, K., Dhooge, I., \& Degeest, S. (2023). Development of the hearing-related quality of life questionnaire for auditory-visual, cognitive and psychosocial functioning (hAVICOP). Journal of communication disorders, 101, 106291.) 2. the FAS (fatigue assessment scale) to assess how you usually feel 3. the EEAS (extended effort assessment scale) to assess how you experience listening in everyday life.

Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (control group)Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (frequency compression)Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (noise reduction)
CognitionBEHAVIORAL

Four cognitive functions, important for speech understanding, will be assessed both audibly and visually: divided attention, working memory, processing speed, and cognitive flexibility and inhibition.

Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (control group)Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (frequency compression)Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (noise reduction)

This test will give an objective assessment of the hearing aids' configuration.

Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (control group)Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (frequency compression)Individuals between 45-80 years with bilateral hearing aids (noise reduction)

Eligibility Criteria

Age45 Years - 80 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Dutch-speaking individuals aged between 45-80 years old
  • individuals with normal vision (with glasses or lenses if needed)
  • individuals with age-related hearing loss
  • individuals with bilateral hearing aids (Phonak Audéo Paradise/Lumity 70)
  • individuals who are capable to give consent to participate in the study themselves

You may not qualify if:

  • user of cochlear implants
  • use of influencing medication (for example: Rilatin and antidepressants)
  • learning disabilities (for example: dyslexia and dyscalculia)
  • (history of) neurological problems (brain tumor, epilepsy, history of stroke, ...)

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University Ghent

Ghent, East-Flanders, 9000, Belgium

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Speech IntelligibilityHearing Loss, Sensorineural

Interventions

Vision ScreeningSurveys and Questionnaires

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

SpeechVerbal BehaviorCommunicationBehaviorHearing LossHearing DisordersEar DiseasesOtorhinolaryngologic DiseasesSensation DisordersNeurologic ManifestationsNervous System DiseasesSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Vision TestsDiagnostic Techniques, OphthalmologicalDiagnostic Techniques and ProceduresDiagnosisMass ScreeningHealth SurveysData CollectionEpidemiologic MethodsInvestigative TechniquesHealth Care Evaluation MechanismsQuality of Health CareHealth Care Quality, Access, and EvaluationPublic HealthEnvironment and Public HealthPublic Health Practice

Study Officials

  • Hannah Keppler, Prof. Dr.

    University Ghent

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
NON RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Purpose
OTHER
Intervention Model
SEQUENTIAL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

April 16, 2024

First Posted

May 17, 2024

Study Start

November 1, 2023

Primary Completion

October 4, 2024

Study Completion

October 4, 2024

Last Updated

November 18, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Locations