A grant from the CHS to better understand the impact of noise on users of hearing aids and cochlear implants

Cirris is pleased to announce that Philippe Fournier, Ph.D., researcher at Cirris and professor at Laval University, has been awarded a $90,400 grant from Canadian Hearing Services – Global Partnership for Innovation.

Entitled “Measuring the pleasantness or loudness of natural sounds, as well as the functional consequences of noise on hearing aid and cochlear implant users,” the project aims to better understand how people with hearing loss perceive and tolerate noise in their daily lives.

Noise is the second most harmful source of environmental pollution and is associated with many negative effects, such as fatigue, stress, sleep disorders, and difficulty concentrating. People with hearing disorders, including tinnitus, hyperacusis, or hearing loss, are particularly vulnerable. Even with hearing aids or cochlear implants, many users report significant discomfort with noise, especially during the first few months of use.

As part of this project, the research team will use two recently developed and validated methods to assess sensitivity to noise. The first involves listening to short excerpts of natural sounds at different sound levels in order to assess their pleasantness and perceived intensity. The second places participants in an immersive environment composed of several speakers, where ambient noise is gradually amplified while they perform a reading task. These approaches will identify the thresholds of annoyance and discomfort associated with noise.

Participants will be assessed before the first fitting of their hearing aid, shortly after use, and then after six months. The goal is to better understand the processes of noise adaptation in users of hearing aids and cochlear implants, in order to contribute to the development of more appropriate rehabilitation strategies that take into account the patient’s experience and promote optimal use of the devices in noisy environments.

The project is led by Philippe Fournier, Ph.D., as principal investigator, in collaboration with Christine Turgeon, Ph.D. (Laval University, Cirris), and an interdisciplinary team of researchers, clinicians, community partners, and students from academic, hospital, and international settings, including François Bergeron, Ph.D., also a researcher at Cirris.

With this grant, Cirris reaffirms its commitment to supporting innovative research aimed at improving the social participation and quality of life of people living with hearing impairments.