Presbycusis

This trial tests an investigational drug called DX243 in people with mild to moderate age-related hearing loss. Participants receive daily injections of DX243 or a placebo for 29 days. The study checks whether the drug is safe and whether it improves hearing, using speech-in-nois…

This study tests whether placing a cochlear implant's ground electrode near the vagus nerve behind the ear works as well as the standard placement under a muscle. Twelve adults getting a cochlear implant will participate. The main goal is to see if speech understanding in noise i…

This study tests an auditory brainstem implant in 20 children who are deaf because they are missing the inner ear or the nerve that carries sound to the brain. The device is surgically placed to stimulate the brainstem directly, bypassing the missing parts. Researchers will monit…

This study compares two common hearing screening methods—pure-tone audiometry and otoacoustic emissions—in over 13,000 preschool children. The goal is to determine which method is better at identifying hearing loss early, so children can get the help they need to avoid speech and…

This study is testing whether changing the frequency settings on a cochlear implant can improve sound quality and speech understanding for people who use both a cochlear implant and a hearing aid. Thirteen experienced bimodal users will try an experimental frequency setting for o…

This study tests whether Apple AirPods can help adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss understand speech in noisy places. Twenty-four participants will compare AirPods, hearing aids, and wireless microphones in a single lab session. Researchers will measure how well people hea…

This study tests whether a one-month treatment combining the allergy drug clemastine fumarate with engineered sound can improve the ability to hear speech in background noise for people aged 45-65 with age-related central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). About 344 participant…

This study tests a new way for hearing aids to process soft sounds, aiming to make quiet speech clearer. Sixteen adults with hearing loss will try two different hearing aid settings in a lab and rate which one sounds more natural and understandable. The goal is to improve hearing…

This study tests whether automatic sound processing in cochlear implants helps children with hearing loss understand speech in noisy environments. Twenty children aged 6 to 16 who use cochlear implants will compare three different sound settings. The goal is to see which setting …

This study tests whether a new AI-based noise reduction feature in Phonak hearing aids helps people with hearing loss or cochlear implants hear speech more clearly in noisy settings. Researchers will measure how well 500 participants repeat words and sentences in quiet and noisy …

This study looks at whether combining a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called rTMS with hearing aids can improve cognitive function in older adults with age-related hearing loss. About 189 participants, including those with and without hearing aids, will receive two 14-…

This study is testing a new software algorithm called SEDA that reduces background noise for cochlear implant users. Researchers will measure how well 60 participants (ages 12 and older) understand speech in quiet and noisy settings with and without the algorithm. The goal is to …

This study tests whether a gentle electrical stimulation on the ear (taVNS) can improve speech understanding in noisy environments for older adults with age-related hearing loss. 36 participants aged 55-80 will receive either active or sham stimulation. The goal is to see if this…

This study tests a new hearing aid, Audiocap, in 100 adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss who have never used a hearing aid before. The goal is to see if it improves hearing better than a placebo device after one month of use. Participants will undergo standard hearing tests…

This study compares using virtual reality glasses versus the standard 'show-do' technique to reduce dental anxiety in 54 children with moderate to severe hearing impairment. The children will have their pulse and anxiety scores measured during a dental cleaning. The goal is to se…

This study is testing whether joining a choir for 12 weeks can help older adults (60+) with mild-to-moderate untreated hearing loss understand speech better and improve their mood and social connections. 210 participants will be randomly assigned to either a weekly group singing …

This study tests whether community healthcare workers can effectively fit hearing aids using a smartphone app in low- and middle-income communities. 90 adults with mild to severe hearing loss will be randomly assigned to receive either a smartphone-based fitting, a pre-set fittin…

This study investigates whether older adults with age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) can still hear and enjoy the sound of a crunchy biscuit while eating. Researchers will compare a crunchy biscuit with a soft one in 100 seniors aged 65 and older, asking them if they hear the…

This study looks at whether listening to music with a steady beat can improve how older adults with age-related hearing loss process sentences. Researchers will have 55 participants aged 70 or older listen to regular or irregular rhythm music, then judge if sentences are grammati…

This study looks at why some people aged 60 and older have trouble understanding speech in noisy settings, even though their standard hearing tests are normal. Researchers will use hearing tests and brain scans to see if the problem is related to how the brain processes sound tim…

This study will follow 5,000 children and teens with hearing loss and normal hearing over time. Researchers will measure changes in hearing, speech, language, and brain scans to see how different treatments—like hearing aids, cochlear implants, or gene therapy—affect development.…

This study looks at how people with normal hearing, hearing loss, or cochlear implants use nearby sounds to recognize speech. Researchers will test participants' ability to identify words and sentences in quiet and noisy settings. The goal is to better understand how hearing aids…

This study uses PET scans to watch brain activity while people with cochlear implants try to understand speech in background noise. Researchers want to pinpoint which brain regions help make sense of sound in challenging listening situations. The study includes 120 cochlear impla…

This study looks at adults aged 30 to 55 who have hearing loss that started after age 16 and carry a mutation in the GJB2 gene. Researchers will track how their hearing changes over time using hearing tests and genetic analysis. The goal is to better understand this form of heari…

This study tests a patient navigation program to help rural adults in Kentucky get hearing tests. 500 participants from primary care clinics will receive guidance every two weeks to overcome barriers like travel and cost. The goal is to see if more people complete diagnostic hear…

This study looks at how people with hearing aids perceive the timbre (quality) of sounds and understand complex sound scenes, like music or crowded rooms. Researchers will compare 75 adults aged 60-75 with and without hearing loss. Participants will listen to sounds and rate how …

This study aims to improve how children with cochlear implants perceive sound by testing new sound coding strategies. Researchers will compare hearing performance between children and adults, and between those with implants and those with normal hearing. The goal is to understand…

This study aims to find out why hearing aids work well in quiet labs but not in noisy real-world settings. About 45 adults with hearing loss who already use hearing aids will listen to different sound scenarios and rate their experience. The goal is to improve hearing aid perform…

This nationwide study aims to understand how hearing loss affects thinking, language, reading, and emotional wellbeing in 256 deaf or hard-of-hearing adolescents. Researchers will use tests and questionnaires to measure speech perception, cognitive skills, and school burnout. No …

This study is gathering information from 100 children and adults who use MED-EL hearing devices, including implants and non-implantable devices. Researchers will collect data on hearing ability, speech understanding, and quality of life through tests and questionnaires. The goal …

This research study looks at how children and adults who use cochlear implants or auditory brainstem implants hear and understand sounds. Participants will listen to words, sentences, and tones to see how well they identify speech and tell differences in loudness or pitch. The go…

This study looks at whether inner-ear balance (vestibular) problems make reading harder for children with hearing loss. Researchers will test 90 children, some with normal hearing and some with severe hearing loss, measuring their ability to see clearly during head movements and …

This study looks at how older adults with hearing loss understand speech in noisy settings, and how hearing aids can help. Researchers will test 121 people, including young and older adults with normal hearing and older adults with hearing loss. They will measure both behavior (l…

This study looks at how people with cochlear implants understand speech in everyday situations, like conversations with background noise. Researchers will test 460 adults (both with and without hearing loss) using listening tasks that measure effort and comprehension. The goal is…