Hearing Aid Noise Reduction in Pediatric Users Pilot Study (Oticon Pilot Study)
Hearing Aid Noise Reduction in Pediatric Users Pilot Study (Oticon Pilot Study)
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of OpenSound Navigator (OSN), a hearing
 aid speech-enhancement algorithm developed by Oticon, as treatment for pediatric hearing aid
 users. The study used a within-subjects design with pre- and post-comparisons involving
 fifteen pediatric (ages 6-12) patients with symmetrical sensorineural hearing losses ranging
 from the mild to moderately-severe degree. All participants were fit with bilateral Oticon
 OPN™ behind-the-ear hearing aids set with the OSN algorithm enabled. The investigators
 evaluated hearing aid benefit through word recognition in noise (behavioral testing) and
 everyday hearing/listening abilities (parental/legal guardian reported) within one week of
 the hearing aid fitting (pre-intervention) and two months post fitting (post-intervention).
OpenSound Navigator (OSN) is a speech enhancement hearing aid algorithm developed by Oticon
 that utilizes an adaptive directional microphone system with an automatic gain control noise
 reduction program. This hearing aid feature is intended for adult hearing aid users and its
 potential benefits of speech, vocabulary and listening development in pediatric users has not
 been investigated. Here the investigators aim to evaluate the efficacy of OSN programming in
 pediatric hearing aid users (6-12 years of age) diagnosed with a symmetrical sensorineural
 hearing loss in the mild to moderately-severe range. The investigators used a within-subjects
 study design with pre- and post-comparisons. All participants were fit with bilateral Oticon
 OPN™ behind-the-ear hearing aids with the OSN feature enabled. Participants will undergo
 standard audiometric diagnostic testing and will be fit with the hearing aids by a licensed
 clinical audiologist. Participants are required to wear the hearing aids full time (at least
 6 hours per day average) during the duration of the study. The evaluation measures will
 include speech recognition testing in controlled background noise and the Speech, Spatial and
 Qualities of Hearing Scale questionnaire (completed by parents/legal guardian). Testing will
 be performed within a week of the hearing aid fitting (pre-intervention) and two months post
 fitting (post-intervention).
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  children ages 6 to 12 years

 -  English as the primary home language

 -  positive for bilateral symmetrical mild to moderately-severe sensorineural hearing
 loss

 -  currently using hearing aids that were dispensed at least 18 months prior to
 enrollment of the study

 -  negative for major cognitive handicap or developmental delay that would prevent or
 restrict participation, as determined by the PI or designee

 -  negative for learning disability, for example attention-deficit/hyperactivity
 disorder, as determined by the PI or designee

 -  negative for serious neurological or psychiatric disease that would prevent or
 restrict participation, as determined by the PI or designee

 -  informed consent of parent/guardian

 -  assent of participating child if aged 11 years and over

 -  standard MRI inclusion criteria as set by the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical
 Center department of Radiology

 -  not currently pregnant or breast feeding

 -  willingness and ability of the participant and/or the participant's caregiver to
 comply with study requirements

 -  no history of medical neglect of caregiver