Noise Reduction With Hearing Aids

The purpose of this study is to use an optimized version of the SEDA algorithm (SEDA-HA) for hearing aids to evaluate the benefit for listeners with varying degrees of hearing loss in realistic environments and evaluate its impact on speech perception and sound quality. The primary objective is to evaluate performance with and without the SEDA-HA algorithm on speech perception and speech reception tasks. The secondary objective is to evaluate performance of and experience with SEDA-HA integrated into a portable hearing aid prototype in the laboratory and in real-world situations outside the laboratory.

Inclusion Criteria: * 16 years of age and older * Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Hearing loss will be diagnosed as sensorineural by an air-bone gap of no more than 10 dB averaged across 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kHz and Type A tympanograms. * Mild, moderate, or severe hearing loss. Hearing loss classification will be dependent on 4-frequency pure tone average (PTA, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4kHz) in the test ear. The mild group will have a PTA of 25-40 dB HL; moderate group will have a PTA of 41-60 dB HL; the severe group will have a PTA of 61-90 dB HL. * Be willing and able to provide consent. Exclusion Criteria: * under 16 years of age * Participants with conductive or mixed hearing loss (i.e. have more than a 10 dB air-bone gap averaged across 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kHz or tympanograms other than Type A)