Evaluation of Novel Noise Reduction Principles in Hearing Instruments

Evaluation of Novel Noise Reduction Principles in Hearing Instruments to Determine Their Applicability.

In the study, the speech intelligibility in noise (Outcome) between a novel noise reduction algorithm (Intervention) versus the standard noise reduction (Comparator) will be tested in adults with a N3-N4 hearing loss (Population) using streamed signals via hearing aids.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Minimum age for men: 18 years, minimum age for wom-en: 64 years, hearing aid users,
• Written and spoken German,
• Hearing loss range: N3-N4 Hearing loss (sensorineural)
• Healthy outer ear,
• Ability to understand and follow the instruction of the in-vestigator
• Informed consent as documented by signature.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Clinical contraindications 1) hearing loss is not within the fitting range of the hearing aid, 2) acute tinnitus, 3) de-formity of the ear (closed ear canal or absence of pinna), and 4) neural hearing loss i.e., retro-cochlear pathologies such as absent / non-viable auditory nerve
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Age >85 years
• known hypersensitivity or allergy,
• limited mobility and not able to attend the appointments