Hearing Aids

The goal of this study is to investigate the suitability and effectiveness of the AirPod Pro 2nd and 3rd generation (AP) as hearing assistive technology for individuals with mild-to-moderate hearing loss when listening in noisy environments. Researchers will compare four types of assistive technology: hearing aids (HAs), AP, dedicated wireless remote microphones, and Smartphone wireless remote microphone. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Which assistive technology provides the greatest benefit for speech recognition in noisy environments? * How do these devices impact listening effort, as measured by reaction time in a dual-task activity and changes in pupil size? * What are participants' preferences for each device based on how easy it is to understand speech and their overall satisfaction? Participants will visit the lab for a single 3-hour session. They will listen to sentences using each device and repeat what they hear. During this task, their reaction times for the secondary task and changes in pupil size will be measured.

Access to affordable and timely hearing healthcare remains a major challenge for many individuals, partly due to the high cost and long turnaround time. This study will explore whether 3D-printed ear tips perform as well as or better than standard ear tips in terms of sound quality, comfort, and fit over a prolonged duration in a sample of individuals with bilateral hearing loss. It will also compare how long each method takes to make and how much each costs.

Access to affordable and timely hearing healthcare remains a major challenge for many individuals, partly due to the high cost and long turnaround time. This study will explore whether 3D-printed ear tips perform as well as or better than standard ear tips in terms of sound quality, comfort, and fit. It will also compare how long each method takes to make and how much each costs.

The overarching hypothesis to be evaluated using this protocol is that age-related hearing loss (ARHL) leads to shifts in the functional spatial boundaries between segregated and integrated auditory streams, and that hearing aid intervention that relies on directional processing schemes is most effective for those that have the poorest spatial sensitivity. One key component of the research design is to measure both behavioral and neurophysiological indices of an individual's spatial segregation boundary. The second key component is to measure the cost or benefit associated with hearing aid intervention in older hearing-impaired listeners. The final component is to relate cost and benefit of hearing aid intervention to spatial sensitivity measures that might predict the efficacy of clinical intervention.

The research will explore outcomes of different service delivery models of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids by comparing them to prescription hearing aids fitted by specialists in individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. The investigators will examine how each type affects users' experiences, behavior, thinking skills, and brain activity related to hearing. Additionally, the study will focus on what types of people prefer each hearing aid option, what helps or hinders these choices, and compare the costs of four different service options. This approach will help transition from research findings into real-world practice, providing useful information for healthcare providers and policymakers about OTC hearing aid options.