Effectiveness Comparison of 3D-Printed and Conventional Ear Tip Comfort in Individuals With Hearing Loss
University of Arizona
Summary
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.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–89 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Bilateral, symmetric, sensorineural hearing loss, with thresholds between normal and severe degree of hearing loss * Normal otoscopy: patent ear canals with normal appearing eardrums and aerated middle ear, bilaterally. * English speaking. Exclusion Criteria: * Self reported history of extensive or current outer or middle ear pathology. * Self reported history of extensive outer or middle ear surgery. * Self reported history of neurological or cognitive disorder. * Active ear infection
Interventions
- DeviceBTE hearing aids with compatible ear tips (Third-party, FlexResin, Resin)
Hearing aids will be fit with three different types of customized ear tips. They will wear each ear tip for 1 week. The following order participants will wear each ear tip includes: Third-party, FlexResin, Resin. Hearing aids will be programmed to fit the participants' hearing loss from 250-8000Hz. A short washout period will follow completion of testing with ear tip group.
- DeviceBTE hearing aids with compatible ear tips (FlexResin, Resin, Third-party, FlexResin)
Hearing aids will be fit with three different types of customized ear tips. They will wear each ear tip for 1 week. The following order participants will wear each ear tip includes: Resin, Third-party, FlexResin. Hearing aids will be programmed to fit the participants' hearing loss from 250-8000Hz. A short washout period will follow completion of testing with ear tip group
- DeviceBTE hearing aids with compatible ear tips (Resin, Third-party, FlexRes)
Hearing aids will be fit with three different types of customized ear tips. They will wear each ear tip for 1 week. The following order participants will wear each ear tip includes: Resin, Third-party, FlexResin. Hearing aids will be programmed to fit the participants' hearing loss from 250-8000Hz. A short washout period will follow completion of testing with ear tip group
Location
- The University of Arizona Hearing ClinicTucson, Arizona