Auditory training interventions to improve speech understanding in noisy environments

Hearing loss is associated with difficulty understanding speech in noisy places (“speech-in-noise”). Auditory training offers a promising approach for improving speech-in-noise perception and is complementary to existing interventions (e.g., hearing aids). Yet, previously tested auditory training protocols have produced inconsistent benefits and studies evaluating benefits have often not been conducted rigorously. Thus, we need new approaches that provide robust benefits for people with hearing loss. This project tests two training methods that target specific processes for speech-in-noise perception among people with hearing loss. We will recruit a group of adults with hearing loss to further develop these training methods by co-designing an app and training protocol, thereby increasing likelihood of uptake. We will then evaluate improvements in speech intelligibility, and examine whether training reduces the effort associated with listening to speech-in-noise. This project will also test the extent of individual differences. By the end of this project, we should have developed an effective auditory training intervention for improving speech-in-noise perception, designed in collaboration with people with hearing loss.