Trial Outcomes & Findings for Restoration of Spectral Resolution With Hearing-aid Amplification (NCT NCT03850678)

NCT ID: NCT03850678

Last Updated: 2025-01-14

Results Overview

Measure of spectral resolution (Q10) obtained from the fast psychophysical tuning curve test. For this study, Q10 was computed as the target frequency divided by the bandwidth of the tuning curve (10 dB above the threshold at the tip of the tuning curve test). Higher numbers on this scale indicate sharper (better) tuning. The lower limit for this scale is 0 and there is no upper limit.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

209 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Each test was approximately 10 minutes and was completed after each experimental manipulation

Results posted on

2025-01-14

Participant Flow

Participants completed a questionnaire about their medical and developmental history and educational level. Participants cognitive ability assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Basic (MOCA-B). Each subject underwent a routine audiological examination, including audiometric testing and tympanometry. Due to not qualifying on basis of inclusion or exclusion criteria (age, degree of hearing loss, or tympanometric findings), 85 participants were excluded before assignment to groups.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Hearing Aid
Group of participants with hearing loss. Working memory span was assessed using the reading span test. The ability of the subjects to detect different frequencies and to repeat speech presented at a variety of levels, while manipulating different hearing aid parameters and also without the provision of amplification, was assessed. Hearing Aid: Hearing Aid
Normal Hearing
Group of participants with normal hearing that serve as a reference group. Working memory span was assessed using the reading span test. The ability of the subjects to detect different frequencies and to repeat speech presented at a variety of levels was assessed.
Overall Study
STARTED
96
28
Overall Study
COMPLETED
85
25
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
11
3

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Hearing Aid
Group of participants with hearing loss. Working memory span was assessed using the reading span test. The ability of the subjects to detect different frequencies and to repeat speech presented at a variety of levels, while manipulating different hearing aid parameters and also without the provision of amplification, was assessed. Hearing Aid: Hearing Aid
Normal Hearing
Group of participants with normal hearing that serve as a reference group. Working memory span was assessed using the reading span test. The ability of the subjects to detect different frequencies and to repeat speech presented at a variety of levels was assessed.
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
3
0
Overall Study
Experimenter Error
1
1
Overall Study
Did Not Condition To Experiment
7
2

Baseline Characteristics

Restoration of Spectral Resolution With Hearing-aid Amplification

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Normal Hearing
n=25 Participants
Group of participants with normal hearing that serve as a reference group.
Hearing Aid
n=85 Participants
Group of participants with sensorineural hearing loss who were tested under conditions with hearing aid amplification.
Total
n=110 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
66 years
n=99 Participants
70 years
n=107 Participants
69 years
n=206 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
20 Participants
n=99 Participants
47 Participants
n=107 Participants
67 Participants
n=206 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
5 Participants
n=99 Participants
38 Participants
n=107 Participants
43 Participants
n=206 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
23 Participants
n=99 Participants
79 Participants
n=107 Participants
102 Participants
n=206 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
2 Participants
n=99 Participants
6 Participants
n=107 Participants
8 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
23 Participants
n=99 Participants
84 Participants
n=107 Participants
107 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
1 Participants
n=107 Participants
1 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
2 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
2 Participants
n=206 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
25 participants
n=99 Participants
85 participants
n=107 Participants
110 participants
n=206 Participants
Montreal Cognitive Assessment Basic (MOCA-B)
26 scores on a scale
n=99 Participants
26 scores on a scale
n=107 Participants
26 scores on a scale
n=206 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Each test was approximately 10 minutes and was completed after each experimental manipulation

Population: Consisted of varying conditions and number of participants per condition, including three different compression speeds (instant, fast, slow), three different number of compression channels (4, 8, 16) and two different amplification conditions (unaided, aided).

Measure of spectral resolution (Q10) obtained from the fast psychophysical tuning curve test. For this study, Q10 was computed as the target frequency divided by the bandwidth of the tuning curve (10 dB above the threshold at the tip of the tuning curve test). Higher numbers on this scale indicate sharper (better) tuning. The lower limit for this scale is 0 and there is no upper limit.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Hearing Aid Group
n=68 Participants
Participants with hearing loss who were tested with hearing aid amplification.
Normal Hearing
n=14 Participants
Comparison group of individuals with normal hearing. This group was only tested without hearing aid amplification (in the unaided condition).
Spectral Resolution
Slow
3.2 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.6
Spectral Resolution
Instant
3.5 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.2
Spectral Resolution
Fast
3.3 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.9
Spectral Resolution
4 Channels
2.8 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.2
Spectral Resolution
8 Channels
2.5 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.7
Spectral Resolution
16 Channels
3.5 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.1
Spectral Resolution
Unaided
2.7 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.7
3.9 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.0
Spectral Resolution
Aided
3.2 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.1

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Each test was approximately 10 minutes and was completed after each experimental manipulation

Population: Participants with normal hearing were only tested unaided. Participants with hearing loss were tested unaided, 4 channels with fast compression, and 16 channels with fast compression. Fast compression with 4 and 16 channels were assessed to assess the potential role of changes in spectral resolution to changes in speech recognition between these two conditions.

measure of spatial release from masking (dB) for a masker presented at 70 dB SPL.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Hearing Aid Group
n=17 Participants
Participants with hearing loss who were tested with hearing aid amplification.
Normal Hearing
n=15 Participants
Comparison group of individuals with normal hearing. This group was only tested without hearing aid amplification (in the unaided condition).
Speech Recognition
unaided
6.6 dB
Standard Deviation 5.1
4.5 dB
Standard Deviation 1.9
Speech Recognition
4 channels
4.0 dB
Standard Deviation 3.2
Speech Recognition
16 channels
3.7 dB
Standard Deviation 2.8

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Each test was approximately 30 minutes and was completed only once per subject.

Measure of working memory (correctly repeated words from the reading span test). The minimum (poorer) and maximum (better) values are 0 and 57, respectively.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Hearing Aid Group
n=14 Participants
Participants with hearing loss who were tested with hearing aid amplification.
Normal Hearing
n=42 Participants
Comparison group of individuals with normal hearing. This group was only tested without hearing aid amplification (in the unaided condition).
Working Memory
23.6 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.8
20.1 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.4

Adverse Events

Hearing Aid

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Normal Hearing

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Marc Brennan

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Phone: 4024723132

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place