Abstract
Objective: This report considers feasibility of conducting a UK trial of combination devices for tinnitus, using data from the study which evaluated different listener programmes available within the pre-market version of Oticon Alta with Tinnitus Sound Generator. Design: Open and closed questions addressed the following feasibility issues: (1) Participant recruitment; (2) Device acceptability; (3) Programme preferences in different self-nominated listening situations; (4) Usability; (5) Compliance; (6) Adverse events. Study sample: Eight current combination hearing aid users (all males) aged between 62–72 years (mean age 67.25 years, SD = 3.8). Results: All eight participants reported the physical aspects and noise options on the experimental device to be acceptable. Programmes with amplification and masking features were equally preferred over the basic amplification-only programme. Individual preferences for the different programme options varied widely, both across participants and across listening situations. Conclusions: A set of recommendations for future trials were formulated which calls for more “real world” trial design rather than tightly controlling the fitting procedure.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 286-294 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | International Journal of Audiology |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 4 |
Early online date | 25 Nov 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 3 Apr 2017 |
Keywords
- clinical trials
- combination device
- feasibility
- hearing aid
- sound therapy
- Tinnitus
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Language and Linguistics
- Linguistics and Language
- Speech and Hearing