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The Hear Clear Study

Key facts

Who runs it
Duke University
Where
Columbus and Durham, United StatesSee the 2 sites
Trial code
Status
Not yet recruiting
People taking part
125 people, planned
Starts
Jan 2027
Expected to end
May 2030
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groups
Treatments tested
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio Enhancement (SNR+)
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio Neutral (SNR-)
Record updated
21 September 2026

Who can take part

Age
18 years and older
Sex
Women and men
Healthy volunteers
Cannot take part

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 9 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Are adults (≥18 years) presenting with "normal hearing" (pure-tone thresholds ≤25 dB HL from 250-4000 Hz) but hearing trouble (≥20 points on RHHI questionnaire)
  • Are willing to try amplification (i.e., hearing aids) for the first time
  • Can Read/write in American English
  • Have access to email, internet, and phone

Who cannot take part

  • Participants with self-reported otologic history (e.g., ear surgery, ototoxic medications, middle-ear dysfunction, holes in ear drums)
  • Prior hearing aid use
  • Have a health condition that would interfere with study participation (e.g., dementia/cognitive disorder, blindness)
  • Have moderate to severe traumatic brain injury
  • Have bothersome tinnitus as their primary complaint

Where in United States

  • The Ohio State UniversityColumbus, United StatesContact: Christina M Roup, Ph.D.No longer taking part
  • Duke University Medical CenterDurham, United StatesContact: Jenny L Norris, MANo longer taking part

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

The purpose of this study is to determine if hearing aid use helps adults with "normal" hearing on clinical hearing tests (i.e., pure-tone audiogram), but who report hearing trouble in everyday life. Another purpose is to understand what factors and hearing aid features provide the most help for these people.

The 2 groups in the trial

  • Open-dome receiver-in-canal hearing aidsTreatment being tested

    Air-conduction receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids with open domes, which have holes or vents that let natural sound and air pass into the ear canal.

    Treatment: Signal-to-Noise Ratio Enhancement (SNR+) and Signal-to-Noise Ratio Neutral (SNR-)

  • Closed-dome receiver-in-canal hearing aidsTreatment being tested

    Air-conduction receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids with closed domes, which have solid rubber with tiny or no vents to seal the ear.

    Treatment: Signal-to-Noise Ratio Enhancement (SNR+) and Signal-to-Noise Ratio Neutral (SNR-)

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
Hearing Aid Benefit in Adults With Self-Reported Hearing Difficulty Yet Normal Pure-Tone Audiograms (Duke sIRB)
Record updated
21 September 2026