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HearEase: A Candidacy Tool for Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids

Award Number: R21DC021767
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/04/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2027

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HearEase: A Candidacy Tool for Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids - Project Summary/Abstract Hearing loss is the third most common chronic health condition affecting 37 million Americans. Untreated hearing loss is estimated to cost the United States two billion dollars in additional healthcare expenditure. Hearing aids are the primary treatment option for hearing loss, however only 30% of individuals who could benefit from a hearing aid use them. In an effort to improve the rates of hearing aid use, the Food and Drug Administration approved the sale of Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aids in October 2022. There is great expectation that OTC hearing aids will significantly improve the uptake of hearing aids among OTC hearing aid target populations. Unfortunately, only 16% of over 1000 consumers surveyed by our lab would consider using OTC hearing aids. One of the barriers that may hinder OTC hearing aid adoption is the inability to self- determine candidacy. Presently, the product information label (PIL) for OTC hearing aids is the only consumer- focused tool intended to help an individual self-determine if they an appropriate user. Unfortunately, preliminary work from our lab has shown that consumers do not attend to the PIL in its entirety, and it is often only made available to the consumer after purchase. Thus, we propose to supplement the PIL by developing an interactive mobile (m)health decision aid (HearEase) that will help guide consumers through the self-candidacy process for OTC hearing aids prior to their purchase. However, the development of HearEase will be critically dependent on thoughtful design and implementation. Thus, we will work with key stakeholders (manufacturers and retailers) to create an implementation plan that will ensure that HearEase will be adopted and implemented by manufacturers and retailers. These overall goals will be achieved by the following aims. Aim 1: To develop an interactive mHealth decision aid (HearEase) that will help potential consumers of OTC HA to self-determine candidacy. Aim 2: To develop the implementation plan for HearEase.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $181,982 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS	101 COMMONWEALTH AVE	AMHERST	MA	01003	HAMPSHIRE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	3	3/24/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$181,982
2026	2024	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	2/10/2026	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $181,982

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $199,218 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS	101 COMMONWEALTH AVE	AMHERST	MA	01003	HAMPSHIRE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	2	7/3/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$199,218
2025	2024	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	7/2/2025	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $199,218

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $200,000 )
2024	2024	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	1	4/12/2024	NEW	$0
2024	2024	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	3/20/2024	NEW	$200,000
														Subtotal = $200,000

Grand Total All Awards = $581,200

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HearEase: A Candidacy Tool for Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids

Award Number: R21DC021767

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/04/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2027

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