Comparing Hearing Aid Fitting Methods in Blast-exposed Veterans

Description

Since 2000, at least 250,000 U.S. Service members have experienced a blast-related mild traumatic brain injury. A retrospective analysis of over 100,000 post-9/11 Veterans shows that blast injury more than doubles the risk of a diagnosed auditory problem. Many blast-exposed Veterans experience "functional hearing difficulties" (FHDs): problems in challenging listening environments despite clinically normal hearing as measured by the pure-tone audiogram. VA audiologists have begun using low-gain hearing aids to treat FHDs, but there are no concrete guidelines for this application given standard procedures rely on the pure-tone audiogram. This study proposes a data-driven approach called speech-based audiometry (SBA), which optimizes hearing aid gains from a patient's responses to speech stimuli in aided conditions. This trial will assess the behavioral (speech recognition in noise, subjective listening difficulty) and neurophysiological (functional neuroimaging during a speech recognition task) benefits of low-gain hearing aids programmed conventionally or with SBA among blast-exposed Veterans with FHDs.

Conditions

Auditory Diseases, Central

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Since 2000, at least 250,000 U.S. Service members have experienced a blast-related mild traumatic brain injury. A retrospective analysis of over 100,000 post-9/11 Veterans shows that blast injury more than doubles the risk of a diagnosed auditory problem. Many blast-exposed Veterans experience "functional hearing difficulties" (FHDs): problems in challenging listening environments despite clinically normal hearing as measured by the pure-tone audiogram. VA audiologists have begun using low-gain hearing aids to treat FHDs, but there are no concrete guidelines for this application given standard procedures rely on the pure-tone audiogram. This study proposes a data-driven approach called speech-based audiometry (SBA), which optimizes hearing aid gains from a patient's responses to speech stimuli in aided conditions. This trial will assess the behavioral (speech recognition in noise, subjective listening difficulty) and neurophysiological (functional neuroimaging during a speech recognition task) benefits of low-gain hearing aids programmed conventionally or with SBA among blast-exposed Veterans with FHDs.

Benefits of Speech-based Audiometry and Low-gain Hearing Aids for Blast-exposed Veterans

Comparing Hearing Aid Fitting Methods in Blast-exposed Veterans

Condition
Auditory Diseases, Central
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Loma Linda

VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, CA, Loma Linda, California, United States, 92357-1000

Sepulveda

VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Sepulveda, CA, Sepulveda, California, United States, 91343

West Los Angeles

VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA, West Los Angeles, California, United States, 90073-1003

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • 1. pure-tone average (PTA) at 0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz of 35 dB HL or better in each ear;
  • 2. pure-tone thresholds no worse than 40 dB HL at any two audiometric frequencies up to 8 kHz;
  • 3. no differences in pure-tone thresholds exceeding 10 dB between the two ears at more than one audiometric frequency up to 4 kHz;
  • 4. native speaker of English; and
  • 5. a score of at least 25 on the Mini Mental State Exam.
  • 1. a conductive hearing impairment or other otological pathology;
  • 2. chronic disease or use of medication that might affect the auditory system or the subject's ability to perform the experimental tasks;
  • 3. an inability to perform the experimental tasks;
  • 4. any contraindications for MRI scanning (this may specifically exclude subjects who have a pacemaker, metal clips, or any other metal device in their body, or who have any other contraindication for MRI as determined by an MRI screening questionnaire); and
  • 5. experience with hearing aids prior to the study.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

VA Office of Research and Development,

Jonathan Venezia, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, CA

Study Record Dates

2028-03-31