Exploration of the Functional Effect of Different Hearing Aid Noise Reduction Algorithms in an Ecologically Valid Conversational Situation

Summary

A methodical evaluation of sound changing principles in CE-labelled Sonova brand hearing instruments (e.g. Phonak hearing instruments) is intended to be conducted on hearing impaired participants. These sound changing principles are enabled by respective hearing instrument technologies and hearing instrument algorithms. The aim of the study is to investigate and asses strength and weaknesses of these novel sound changing principles in terms of hearing performance to determine their application in hearing instruments (Phase of development). Objective laboratory measurements as well as subjective ratings will be carried out. This will be a controlled, single blinded and randomized active comparator clinical evaluation which will be conducted mono centric at Sonova AG Headquarter based in Stäfa.

Conditions

• Hearing Loss

Interventions

DEVICE

Hearing Aid with standard noise reduction (NR_1)

Each participant will be fitted with the 3 different noise reduction (sound changing) principles on the same hearing aid, saved to 3 manual programs (ensures exact same hearing loss compensation for each intervention). Noise Reduction principle is a sound processing algorithm to remove noise from a speech signal to improve the speech intelligibility and comfort. The active comparator condition is the state of the art Noise Reduction principle to mimic the natural directivity of the outer ear.

DEVICE

Hearing Aid with NR_2

Each participant will be fitted with the 3 different noise reduction (sound changing) principles on the same hearing aid, saved to 3 manual programs (ensures exact same hearing loss compensation for each intervention). Noise Reduction principle is a sound processing algorithm to remove noise from a speech signal to improve the speech intelligibility and comfort. The experimental conditions vary in their parametrization to result in different degrees of noise suppression and good speech quality.

DEVICE

Hearing Aid with NR_3

Each participant will be fitted with the 3 different noise reduction (sound changing) principles on the same hearing aid, saved to 3 manual programs (ensures exact same hearing loss compensation for each intervention). Noise Reduction principle is a sound processing algorithm to remove noise from a speech signal to improve the speech intelligibility and comfort. The experimental conditions vary in their parametrization to result in different degrees of noise suppression and good speech quality.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sebastian Griepentrog

  lead INDUSTRY

Principal Investigators

• Josephine Hollenbach · Sonova AG

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

99 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-08-31

Primary Completion

2025-09-30

Completion

2025-09-30

Countries

• Switzerland

Study Locations