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This study aims to generate clinical evidence to substantiate performance claims for the AutoFocus 360 feature in Sonova hearing aid products. AutoFocus 360 is designed to enhance speech intelligibility by detecting the direction of incoming speech and dynamically steering the beamformer toward the talker, regardless of their position relative to the listener. Preliminary internal testing suggested potential benefits in reducing noise disturbance and improving speech clarity compared to traditional directional microphone modes, with outcomes depending on noise type, talker location, and microphone configuration. The present study will systematically evaluate sound quality and listening performance with AutoFocus 360 versus conventional fixed directional settings to support claims of improved speech understanding in noise.
Claims evidence is required for the AutoFocus 360 feature on upcoming product platforms.
AutoFocus 360 is a feature that enhances speech intelligibility by detecting the direction from where speech is coming from relative to the hearing aid wearer and steering the beamforming towards the direction of the speech. Informal exploratory testing by normal hearing Sonova employees have identified that AutoFocus 360 reduces noise disturbance and improves speech clarity, over other microphones modes with some dependencies on (1) noise type, (2) talker location and (3) specific mode comparisons.
AutoFocus 360 is intended to improve listening by directing the hearing aid beamformer towards the speaker wherever they are relative to the listener (i.e. front, side or rear) compared to other in-noise beamforming, mainly fixed wide directional. Sonova currently does not have any data to support this. Therefore, this study will aim to produce sound quality data showing a benefit for Autofocus 360 over traditional beamforming for the purpose of claim substantiation.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant group | Experimental | Participants will listen to scenes of a talker speaking in two types of noise from either the front, left, rear, and right using AutoFocus360 and fixed directional microphones. Condition order is randomized between participants and masked from participants and experimenters. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AutoFocus 360 | Device | AutoFocus 360 is a feature that enhances speech intelligibility by detecting the direction from where speech is coming from relative to the hearing aid wearer and steering the beamforming towards the direction of the speech. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Noise disturbance sound quality attribute | Participants will complete an A-B paired-comparison listening task to assess subjective preference for noise disturbance between two hearing aid conditions. During testing, participants will listen to short audio recordings that vary in talker location and noise type. For each trial, participants will indicate which of the two recordings (A or B) has less bothersome background noise. The outcome measure will be the proportion of "A preferred" versus "B preferred" responses aggregated across all trials and participants. Binary preference data will be analyzed using inferential statistics. | During a single 2-hour onsite study session |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Speech clarity sound quality attribute | Participants will complete an A-B paired-comparison listening task to assess subjective preference for speech clarity between two hearing aid conditions. During testing, participants will listen to short audio recordings that vary in talker location and noise type. For each trial, participants will indicate which of the two recordings (A or B) has clearer speech. The outcome measure will be the proportion of "A preferred" versus "B preferred" responses aggregated across all trials and participants. Binary preference data will be analyzed using inferential statistics. |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Jinyu Qian, PhD | Sonova AG | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonova Canada Inc. | Kitchener | Ontario | N2E 1Y6 | Canada |
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| Type | Date | Date Unknown |
|---|---|---|
| Release | May 13, 2026 | |
| Reset | Jun 9, 2026 |
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| Release Date | Unrelease Date | Unrelease Date Unknown | Reset Date | MCP Release Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 13, 2026 | Jun 9, 2026 | |||
| Jun 24, 2026 |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D034381 | Hearing Loss |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D006311 | Hearing Disorders |
| D004427 | Ear Diseases |
| D010038 | Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases |
| D012678 | Sensation Disorders |
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| Fixed directional microphone | Device | Fixed directional microphones delivers static beamforming towards the front of the hearing aid wearer. |
|
| During a single 2-hour onsite study session |
| D009461 |
| Neurologic Manifestations |
| D009422 | Nervous System Diseases |
| D012816 | Signs and Symptoms |
| D013568 | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |