Online service centre for effective self-help
Many people with hearing problems wait years before seeking help, which can lead to job problems, isolation, and mental issues. In a cross-border project, we develop OSCAR – an ‘Online Service Centre for heAring caRe’. The project brings together academic, clinical, industrial, and societal partners to develop a digital platform for supporting people with hearing problems, regardless of location. OSCAR aims to bridge the gap between self-help and professional hearing care, empowering users to make informed decisions about hearing healthcare.
Multisensory perception with hearing and vision loss
Older adults suffer often from both hearing and vision (‘dual-sensory’) loss. Because these losses are typically handled separately, the ‘true’ handicap caused by them is underestimated. Further, because routine diagnostic tests focus on sensory instead of perceptual processes, communication-related consequences are overlooked. In our lab, we investigate multisensory perception with and without hearing and vision loss to shed light on the underlying mechanisms and deficits that occur. Moreover, we work on new diagnostic measures and compensation strategies for tackling dual-sensory loss.
Picture: Nana Olejank HansenHearing diagnostics and gain prescription at moderate to high levels
People with hearing loss differ in how they perceive sounds at moderate to high levels. In audiological practice, these differences are typically neglected and standard hearing aid solutions are chosen. For individuals with hearing profiles that deviate from the average, this leads to suboptimal outcomes. In our lab, we investigate how hearing abilities at moderate to high levels can be characterised effectively. Furthermore, we develop ‘sweet-spot compression’ – an amplification strategy aimed at improving listening outcomes for hearing aid users in loud, noisy situations.
Picture: Lars Skaaning
Listening difficulties in school-age children
Problems with speech understanding are common among school-age children. To detect such problems, suitable diagnostic tests are needed. In our lab, we develop speech tests suited for school-age children and EEG-based measures that do not require active participation. Using these and other audiological tests, we study listening difficulties caused by early-childhood otitis media and use our results to inform hearing rehabilitation.
Picture: Lars Skaaning
