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).