Communication Sciences and Disorders Commons^™

Exploring The Influence Of Ear-Level Devices On Adult Perceptions Across Professional, Social, And Educational Settings, Lucia R. Berry

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Background: The hearing aid market is continuously advancing to address the increasing prevalence of hearing loss and the barriers to obtaining hearing aids. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Apple AirPods Pro 2 devices to function as over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. This is an alternative option to manage hearing difficulties; however, it presents secondary complications related to headphone use and stigma.

Objective: Limited research is available regarding attitudes towards individuals wearing Apple AirPods Pro 2 as OTC hearing aids. This study intended to analyze if people’s pre-established perceptions of Apple AirPods shift once they learn they are being used …

Bridging The Gap: How Sociodemographic Factors Shape Adults’ Decisions To Pursue Hearing Aids, Logan Lorié

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Despite hearing aids becoming more accessible to adults with hearing loss, hearing aid uptake rates remain low, partly due to sociodemographic factors that influence an adults’ decision to pursue amplification. This study systematically reviewed research on how sociodemographic factors – to include age, gender, socioeconomic status, education level, race/ethnicity, and military status – contribute to the decision-making process. This review guided an analysis of these variables using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a large public health database. To ensure enough hearing aid users were included in the analysis, NHANES data were combined across survey cycles from 1999 …

Individual Noise-Tolerance Profiles And Neural Signal-To-Noise Ratio: Insights Into Predicting Speech-In-Noise Performance And Noise-Reduction Outcomes, Subong Kim, Susan Arzac, Natalie Dokic, Jenn Donnelly, Nicole Genser, Kristen Nortwich, Alexis Rooney

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Background/Objectives: Individuals with similar hearing sensitivity exhibit varying levels of tolerance to background noise, a trait tied to unique individual characteristics that affect their responsiveness to noise reduction (NR) processing in hearing aids. The present study aimed to capture such individual characteristics by employing electrophysiological measures and subjective noise-tolerance profiles, and both were analyzed in relation to speech-in-noise performance and NR outcomes. Methods: From a sample of 42 participants with normal hearing, the neural signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)—a cortical index comparing the amplitude ratio between auditory evoked responses to target speech onset versus noise onset—was calculated, and individual noise-tolerance profiles were …

Individual Noise-Tolerance Profiles And Neural Signal-To-Noise Ratio: Insights Into Predicting Speech-In-Noise Performance And Noise-Reduction Outcomes, Subong Kim, Susan Arzac, Natalie Dokic, Jenn Donnelly, Nicole Genser, Kristen Nortwich, Alexis Rooney

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Background/Objectives: Individuals with similar hearing sensitivity exhibit varying levels of tolerance to background noise, a trait tied to unique individual characteristics that affect their responsiveness to noise reduction (NR) processing in hearing aids. The present study aimed to capture such individual characteristics by employing electrophysiological measures and subjective noise-tolerance profiles, and both were analyzed in relation to speech-in-noise performance and NR outcomes. Methods: From a sample of 42 participants with normal hearing, the neural signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)—a cortical index comparing the amplitude ratio between auditory evoked responses to target speech onset versus noise onset—was calculated, and individual noise-tolerance profiles were …

How Much Should Consumers With Mild To Moderate Hearing Loss Spend On Hearing Devices?, Vinaya Manchaiah, Steve Taddei, Abram Bailey, De Wet Swanepoel, Hansapani Rodrigo, Andrew Sabin

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: This study examined the relationship between hearing device price and sound quality. Method: A novel consumer-centric metric of sound quality (“SoundScore”) was used to assess hearing devices’ audio performance. Each hearing device is tested with two fittings. The “Initial Fit” is designed to approximate the most likely fitting for an individual with a mild-to-moderate sloping sensorineural hearing loss. The “Tuned Fit” includes adjusting parameters optimized to hit prescriptive fitting targets (NAL NL2) on an acoustic manikin. Each fitting is evaluated across five dimensions. Both fittings are combined using a weighted average to create a single number from 0 to …

A Qualitative Study Of The Role Of Hearing Aid Use And Physical Fit Accessories In A Sample Of Older Adults, Mohamed Rahme, Paula Folkeard, Susan Scollie

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

Objective: The purpose of the study was to qualitatively describe the experiences of hearing aid andphysical fit accessories use during physical activity and exercise participation in a sample of older adultswith hearing loss.

Design: A prospective qualitative research design was employed with the use of focus groups with older adult participants who were fitted with hearing aids and physical fit accessories.

Study Sample: Twelve older adults with hearing loss (six experienced and six new hearing aid users, age range 64 – 88 years) were recruited in this study.

Results: The barriers to hearing at physical activity and exercise environments were …

Real-World Assessment Of Listener Preference For Hearing Aid Technology Levels In Socially Involved Situations, Danielle Glista, Robin O'Hagan, Krystal Beh, Jeff Crukley, Susan Scollie, Leonard Cornelisse

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

Introduction: Current hearing aids have an abundance of feature options and technologies. It is important to understand the clinical impact of hearing aid technology selection and how to individualize fittings to optimize hearing aid performance according to listening environment. To probe the naturalistic listening experiences researchers can use in-situ outcome measures. Survey based real-world assessments can increase knowledge of hearing aid users’ everyday scenarios, beyond the limits of lab-based scenarios. This study aimed to assess the relationship between subjective preference ratings of adult listeners and hearing aid technology level using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). A secondary research question explored survey …

Directionality In Bicros Hearing Aids: An Investigation Of Objective And Subjective Outcomes, Hasan K. Saleh, Paula Folkeard, Volker Kuehnel, Solveig C. Voss, Jinyu Qian, Susan Scollie

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

Objectives: To assess the effect of forward and omnidirectional microphone configurations in BiCROS versus monaural hearing aids on objective and subjective outcomes in different noise conditions.

Design: After fitting and a 4-week acclimatisation period, speech recognition and sound quality were measured using forward directional, omnidirectional, and unaided settings. Two noise configurations were used, surrounding noise and noise presented from the aided (better) ear. Subjective outcomes were assessed using the SSQ-b and BBSS questionnaires and participant interviews.

Study sample: Eighteen adult participants (mean: 74.6 y; range: 61–94 y; ten males, eight females) with mild to moderately severe SNHL in their better …

Are Hearing Aids Designed For All Parts Of The World? An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study, Preeti Pandey

Dissertations, 2020-current

The affordability of hearing aids (HA) is a significant barrier to ownership in low-and middle-income countries (WHO, 2021). Crowded living conditions in developing countries intensify the complexity of listening environments compared to developed nations. No existing literature compares the listening environment and HA outcomes using real-world measures across these regions. This study aims to 1) compare HA outcomes and listening environments between India and the USA, and 2) evaluate the benefit of premium HAs over basic HAs in both locations. In an observational, multi-location, single-blinded study, nineteen hearing aid users (mean age 69.6 years) participated. Ecological momentary assessments (EMA) were …

Cortical And Subjective Measures Of Individual Noise Tolerance Predict Hearing Outcomes With Varying Noise Reduction Strength, Subong Kim, Susan Arzac, Natalie Dokic, Jenn Donnelly, Nicole Genser, Kristen Nortwich, Alexis Rooney

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Noise reduction (NR) algorithms are employed in nearly all commercially available hearing aids to attenuate background noise. However, NR processing also involves undesirable speech distortions, leading to variability in hearing outcomes among individuals with different noise tolerance. Leveraging 30 participants with normal hearing engaged in speech-in-noise tasks, the present study examined whether the cortical measure of neural signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)—the amplitude ratio of auditory evoked responses to target speech onset and noise onset—could predict individual variability in NR outcomes with varying strength, thus serving as a reliable indicator of individual noise tolerance. In addition, we also measured subjective ratings of …

Hearing At The Mall: Multibeam Processing Technology Improves Hearing Group Conversations In A Real-World Food Court Environment, Paula Folkeard, Niels S. Jensen, Homayoun K. Parsi, Sascha Bilert, Susan Scollie

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

How can hearing aids make group conversations easier in noisy public spaces?

Hearing aids often struggle to help users follow conversations in noisy, real-world environments like busy food courts. This study found that a new hearing aid technology using multiple adaptive beams to track different speakers improved users' ability to understand and focus on group conversations in a mall food court setting. These results suggest that advancements in hearing aid algorithms that account for the natural head movements and multiple conversation partners could significantly enhance the listening experience for people with hearing loss in challenging everyday situations.

The Effects Of Personal Listening Device Use On Hearing Loss And Amplification Stigma, Chelsea Tipton

Student Theses and Dissertations

The study aimed to analyze the impact of the frequent use of personal listening devices on college student's perception of individuals who wear hearing aids. Furthermore, this thesis aimed to determine if college students who use personal listening devices more frequently rate individuals who wear hearing aids more favorably than students who use personal listening devices less often. Participants completed a survey that included pictures of individuals with and without hearing aids. The participants were asked to rate the images within the survey based on their perception of how physically competent, cognitively competent, and how well their peers accepted the …

Objective Discrimination Of Bimodal Speech Using Frequency Following Responses, Can Xu, Fan-Yin Cheng, Sarah Medina, Erica Eng, René Gifford, Spencer Smith

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Bimodal hearing, in which a contralateral hearing aid is combined with a cochlear implant (CI), provides greater speech recognition benefits than using a CI alone. Factors predicting individual bimodal patient success are not fully understood. Previous studies have shown that bimodal benefits may be driven by a patient's ability to extract fundamental frequency (f0) and/or temporal fine structure cues (e.g., F1). Both of these features may be represented in frequency following responses (FFR) to bimodal speech. Thus, the goals of this study were to: 1) parametrically examine neural encoding of f0 and F1 in simulated bimodal speech conditions; 2) examine …

Caring For Individuals Who Are Experiencing Homelessness: An Audiologist’S Toolkit, Jenna Marie Sparacio

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

National-level counts for individuals experiencing homelessness have been steadily on the rise. People experiencing homelessness face extraordinary barriers and challenges in accessing health care services, including hearing healthcare. Additionally, there is a high prevalence of self- reported hearing difficulties and hearing handicap among people experiencing homelessness. Hearing loss status and management is often not prioritized in healthcare settings, and treatment plans are not typically modified to best address the hearing needs of individuals who are homeless. This evidence-based toolbox for audiologists was developed to help understand and mediate healthcare barriers that people experiencing homelessness face, as well as to help …

Head Movement Behaviors In Various Communication Environments, Angkana Lertpoompunya

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In a complex environment with only a single-source speech target, modern hearing aids can improve signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) by using directional microphones, and consequently, improve speech intelligibility. However, in many realistic listening situations where there are multiple sound sources, especially in a turn-taking conversation, improving the SNRs in one location may come at a cost of another equally important location. Critically, the hearing aid user is also unlikely to retain a static head orientation to which the hearing aids reference in these complex environments. For this reason, modern premium hearing aids are now equipped with motion sensors (e.g., accelerometers) to …

Hearing Healthcare Professionals’ Views About Over-The-Counter (Otc) Hearing Aids: Analysis Of Retrospective Survey Data, Vinaya Manchaiah, Anu Sharma, Hansapani Rodrigo, Abram Bailey, Karina C. De Sousa, De Wet Swanepoel

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Over-the-counter hearing aids have been available to consumers in the US since 17 October 2022 following a ruling by the Food and Drug Administration. However, their reception by hearing healthcare professionals (HHP) has been mixed, and concerns have been expressed by many HHPs. The aim of this study was to examine the concerns that HHPs have towards over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. The study used a retrospective survey design. The survey data of HHPs (n = 730) was obtained from Hearing Tracker. A 22-item structured questionnaire was administered using a Question Scout platform. Descriptive analyses examined reported areas of concern and …

A Review Of Current Pediatric Tele-Audiology Ehealth Platforms, Alex Meibos

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify current pediatric tele-audiology hearing technology platforms for young children with hearing loss and their families.

Method: An exploratory, descriptive design was used to evaluate features of available pediatric tele-audiology platforms for parents and audiologists to implement for young children. The study explored internet resources including hearing industry websites, for information related to specific eHealth platform features designed to support pediatric hearing devices currently available to audiologists and families.

Results: Of the websites reviewed, only four major technology companies were found to have pediatric tele-audiology ready platforms designed to support young children …

Ehealth Education And Support For Pediatric Hearing Aid Management: Parent Goals, Questions And Challenges, Natalie Nichols, Karen F. Munoz, Guadalupe G. San Miguel, Michael P. Twohig

Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Student Research

Purpose: To investigate parent goals, questions, and challenges that emerged during coaching phone calls in an eHealth program designed to provide education and support for hearing aid management.

Methods: Coaching phone calls were audio-recorded, transcribed and qualitatively analyzed for emergent themes within the categories of goals, questions, and challenges.

Results: Emergent themes revealed parent goals were focused on self-efficacy, routines, device care and child development. Emergent themes for questions revealed parents asked questions related to the device care, audiology appointments, confirmation of learning, and child development. For challenges emergent themes revealed parents’ own struggles (e.g., with emotions), issues related to …

Systematic Review: The Effect Of Hearing Aids On Balance And Falls, Natalia Beatriz Pagan-Guadalupe

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Background: The population of individuals 65 years old is increasing and falls are one of the most prevalent causes of disabilities among this population. Recent studies have found association between neural hearing losses and increased risk of falls, suggesting that hearing is an important input that assist visual, proprioceptive and vestibular inputs in maintaining balance. Hearing aids are known to be beneficial to improve access to sound; however, it is very limited the research regarding the effects of amplification on balance and risk of falls.

Objectives: This systematic review intends to gather and analyze all the research available regarding the …

Perceived Sound Quality Dimensions Influencing Frequency-Gain Shaping Preferences For Hearing Aid-Amplified Speech And Music, Jonathan M. Vaisberg, Steve Beaulac, Danielle Glista, Ewan A. Macpherson, Susan D. Scollie

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

© The Author(s) 2021. Hearing aids are typically fitted using speech-based prescriptive formulae to make speech more intelligible. Individual preferences may vary from these prescriptions and may also vary with signal type. It is important to consider what motivates listener preferences and how those preferences can inform hearing aid processing so that assistive listening devices can best be tailored for hearing aid users. Therefore, this study explored preferred frequency-gain shaping relative to prescribed gain for speech and music samples. Preferred gain was determined for 22 listeners with mild sloping to moderately severe hearing loss relative to individually prescribed amplification while …

Ehealth Parent Education For Hearing Aid Management: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Karen F. Muñoz, Guadalupe G. San Miguel, Tyson S. Barrett, Courtney Kasin, Kelsey Baughman, Bailey Reynolds, Caitlyn Ritter, Makynzie Larsen, John J. Whicker, Michael P. Twohig

Psychology Student Research

Objective: Parents frequently experience challenges implementing daily routines important for consistent hearing aid management. Education that supports parents in learning new information and gaining confidence is essential for intervention success. We conducted a pilot study to test an eHealth program to determine if we could implement the program with adherence and affect important behavioral outcomes compared to treatment as usual.

Design: Randomized controlled trial

Study sample: Parents of children birth to 42 months who use hearing aids. Eighty-two parents were randomly assigned to the intervention or treatment-as-usual group. Four parents assigned to the intervention group did not continue after baseline …

Relationship Of Head Circumference And Age In The Prediction Of The Real-Ear-To-Coupler Difference (Recd), Kelli M. Watts, Marlene Bagatto, Sandra Clark-Lewis, Samantha Henderson, Susan Scollie, Judith Blumsack

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

Background Pediatric hearing instrument fitting is optimally performed with individually obtained real-ear-to-coupler difference (RECD) measurements. If these measurements cannot be obtained, predicted values based on age are used. Recent evidence obtained from children aged 3-11 years suggests that head circumference (HC) may be a viable alternative or addition to age for use in RECD prediction. Purpose The purpose of the present study was to determine if HC can be used to predict RECDs in infants, children, and adults. Research Design A correlational design was used. HC and RECD values were measured in all participants. Study Sample Participants were 278 North …

Primary Care Physician Perceptions Of Hearing Loss And Amplification: A Survey, Sophie Racine

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The goal of this survey is to determine primary care physicians’ (PCP) views regarding hearing loss and hearing amplification. A questionnaire was created, using TypeForm©. Factors interrogated in the survey included structural aspects of the health care delivery system, presence of stigma among providers regarding hearing amplification, PCPs’ knowledge of hearing loss, the utility of amplification, official recommendations on screening and amplification, costs of hearing aids and risks of untreated hearing loss, and practitioners’ viewpoints and practice behaviors surrounding hearing loss and amplification. The survey instrument is comprised of four domains: 1) demographics, 2) knowledge of hearing loss and amplification, …

Usability Of A Mobile App For Improving Literacy In Children With Hearing Impairment: Focus Group Study., Shelly Deforte, Emre Sezgin, Janelle Huefner, Shana Lucius, John Luna, Anand A Satyapriya, Prashant Malhotra

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

BACKGROUND: Children with hearing loss, even those identified early and who use hearing aids or cochlear implants, may face challenges in developing spoken language and literacy. This can lead to academic, behavioral, and social difficulties. There are apps for healthy children to improve their spoken language and literacy and apps that focus on sign language proficiency for children with hearing loss, but these apps are limited for children with hearing loss. Therefore, we have developed an app called Hear Me Read, which uses enhanced digital stories as therapy tools for speech, language, and literacy for children with hearing loss. The …

Beliefs And Self-Efficacy Of Parents Of Young Children With Hearing Loss, Sophie E. Ambrose, Margo Appenzeller, Alexandra Mai, Jean L. Desjardin

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The purpose of this study was to learn more about the beliefs and self-efficacy of parents of young children with hearing loss. Seventy-two parents completed the Scale of Parental Involvement and Self-Efficacy - Revised (SPISE-R), which queries parents about their child’s hearing device use and their perceptions of their own beliefs, knowledge, confidence, and actions pertaining to supporting their child’s auditory access and spoken language development. Two beliefs were identified that related to parents’ action scores and one belief was identified that related to children’s hearing device use. Knowledge and confidence scores were significantly correlated with action scores and children’s …

Audibility, Cost-Acceptibility And Cosmetic Appearance Of Iqbuds Boost In Adults Over The Age Of 50, Madison Dacus, Vishakha Rawool

Honors Theses

Background: Hearing loss affects 48 million Americans and up to 86% of all adults with hearing loss may not wear hearing aids. Untreated hearing loss is associated with social withdrawal, depression, stress, loss of income, and dementia. Even so, people still tend not to buy or wear hearing aids for a variety of reasons. One recently suggested solution to this problem is low-cost, over the counter (OTC) hearing aids, nicknamed “hearables” This study evaluated the audibility, cost-acceptability and cosmetic appearance of one OTC, IQBuds BOOST.

Methods: Fourteen men and 12 women over 50 years with a hearing loss participated in …

The Impact Of Hair Covering Hearing Aid Microphones On Directional Performance, Sara F. Wagner

Dissertations, 2020-current

This study examined the effect of hair covering on hearing aid directional microphone performance. Nine adult, experienced hearing aid users (3 males, 6 females; mean age = 64.6 years) with mild to severe, sloping symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss were included in this study. Binaural Oticon Opn 1 receiver-in-the-ear hearing aids with closed domes were used to provide the recommended amplification for each participant. Speech Reception Threshold (dB SNR required for 50% speech understanding) was measured in all combinations of directional microphone (on/off) and hair covering (with/without) resulting in a total of four conditions. Results showed that directional microphones significantly improved …

Speech Understanding And Listening Effort In Noise With A New Speech Processing Algorithm, Abigail E. Compton

Dissertations, 2020-current

This study examined the effect of a new speech processing strategy (SpeechZone2) in a commercially available hearing aid on speech understanding in noise and self-reported listening effort. Seven adult, experienced hearing aid users (2 males, 5 females; mean age = 64.6 years) with mild to severe, sloping sensorineural hearing loss participated in this study. Binaural Unitron Flex receiver in the ear style hearing aids with closed domes were used to provide the manufacturer prescribed amplification for each participant. The hearing aids were programmed with two separate memories: 1) omnidirectional microphone without SpeecZone2 processing, and 2) adaptive directionality with SpeechZone2 processing. …

An Examination Of Clinical Uptake Factors For Remote Hearing Aid Support: A Concept Mapping Study With Audiologists, Danielle Glista, Robin O’Hagan, Sheila Moodie, Susan Scollie

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

© 2020 The Authors. Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of British Society of Audiology, International Society of Audiology, and Nordic Audiological Society. Objective: To develop a conceptual framework around the factors that influence audiologists in the clinical uptake of remote follow-up hearing aid support services. Design: A purposive sample of 42 audiologists, stratified according to client-focus of either paediatric or adult, were recruited from professional associations in Ontario, Canada, as members of the six-step, participatory-based concept mapping process. Analyses included multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis. Results: Six main themes emerged from …

Evaluation Of Hearing Aid Manufacturers' Software-Derived Fittings To Dsl V5.0 Pediatric Targets, Paula Folkeard, Marlene Bagatto, Susan Scollie

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

Background Hearing aid prescriptive methods are a commonly recommended component of evidence-based preferred practice guidelines and are often implemented in the hearing aid programming software. Previous studies evaluating hearing aid manufacturers' software-derived fittings to prescriptions have shown significant deviations from targets. However, few such studies examined the accuracy of softwarederived fittings for the Desired Sensation Level (DSL) v5.0 prescription. Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of software-derived fittings to the DSL v5.0 prescription, across a range of hearing aid brands, audiograms, and test levels. Research Design This study is a prospective chart review with simulated …