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Hearing aids and social life in older adults with hearing loss

Looks at how hearing aids relate to social activity and thinking in older adults.

Key facts

Who runs it
University of Southern California
Where
Los Angeles, United StatesSee the 2 sites
Trial code
Registry title
New Approach to Objectively Measure Social Engagement in Older Adults With Hearing Loss
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
100 people, planned
Started
1 Jan 2026
Expected to end
30 Jun 2030
Type of study
Observational, 3 groups
Treatments tested
  • Hearing aid use
Record updated
11 May 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults aged 60 or older who speak English or Spanish. It takes people with normal hearing and people with hearing loss in both ears, with or without hearing aids.

Age
60 years and older
Sex
All sexes
Disease stage
Three groups: normal hearing (speech frequency PTA <25dB HL in both ears); hearing loss in both ears without hearing aids; hearing loss in both ears using hearing aids.
Earlier treatment
One group must not be using hearing aids. Another group must be using hearing aids now.
Biomarker or test result
Hearing test (pure-tone average): <25dB HL in both ears for normal hearing, >=25 dB HL in both ears for hearing loss.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Younger than 60 years
  • Not able to complete questionnaires in English or Spanish

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 7 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Age >= 60 years
  • English or Spanish speaking
  • Group 1- older adults with normal hearing defined as speech frequency PTA <25dB HL in bilateral ears
  • Group 2- older adults with bilateral hearing loss who are not using hearing aids
  • Group 3- older adults with bilateral hearing loss, who are currently using hearing aids

Who cannot take part

  • Age <60 years
  • Unable to complete questionnaires in English or Spanish

Where in United States

  • Los Angeles General Medical CenterLos Angeles, United StatesContact: Janet Choi, MD, MPHTaking people
  • University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, United StatesContact: Janet Choi, MD, MPHTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if hearing devices, like hearing aids, affect social and cognitive function of older adults. The main questions the researchers want to answer are:

Read full original descriptionShow less

* How social are older adults with hearing loss before and after using hearing devices? * How well do older adults with hearing loss think before and after using hearing devices? * For older adults who have hearing loss and use hearing devices, do changes in social interaction explain changes in how well they think (cognitive function)? * Do brainwaves (EEGs) in older adults with hearing loss change after using hearing devices? * Are there differences in how social older adults with hearing loss are compared to older adults without hearing loss?

What Participants Will Do:

* Participants will take questionnaires for around 60 minutes. Questionnaires will ask participants about their background, health, hearing, and how social they are. Another set of questionnaires will check their thinking ability or cognition. * Participants will wear an audio sensor (TILES Audio Recorder on Jelly Mobile phone) for 2 weeks. The sensor will collect and store information about a participant's voice during conversations. Once the device has information about a participant's voice such as pitch and tone it will store this information and delete the audio recording. Words spoken during conversations will be deleted. * (Optional) Participants can choose to participate in a 45-60-minute EEG (electroencephalogram) recording session. Participants will have sensors placed on top of their heads. Sensors will record the participants' brainwaves. Sounds will be played to see how participants' brainwaves change when they hear sounds. Eligible participants will be invited to participate in 4-month follow-up study.

The 3 groups in the trial

  • Adults with bilateral hearing loss (hearing aid users)

    Participants with bilateral hearing loss (defined as those with speech-frequency pure-tone average \>=25 dB HL bilaterally) and currently using hearing aids.

    Treatment: Hearing aid use

  • Adults without hearing loss

    Hearing loss defined as speech-frequency pure-tone average \>=25 dB HL bilaterally

  • Adults with hearing loss (non-hearing aid users)

    Participants with bilateral hearing loss (defined as those with speech-frequency pure-tone average \>=25 dB HL bilaterally) and not currently using hearing aids.

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
New Approach to Objectively Measure Social Engagement in Older Adults With Hearing Loss
Plain-language title
Hearing aids and social life in older adults with hearing lossGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 14 November 2026.
Record updated
11 May 2026