Diagnosis of Hidden Hearing Loss in Adults : Refining the Audiological Profile for Better Diagnosis. (NCT07738549) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Diagnosis of Hidden Hearing Loss in Adults : Refining the Audiological Profile for Better Diagnosis.
France80 participantsStarted 2026-07-01
Plain-language summary
This study aims to investigate the underlying mechanisms of speech-in-noise difficulties in patients with normal conventional pure-tone and speech audiometry. Participants presenting with complaints of impaired speech understanding in noisy environments will undergo a comprehensive audiological assessment, including extended high-frequency audiometry, electrocochleography (EcoG), distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), auditory brainstem responses (ABR), and central auditory processing evaluation. The study seeks to identify cochlear, neural, and central auditory abnormalities that may contribute to hidden hearing loss and improve its clinical characterization.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
Adult patients (age \> 18 years). Patients affiliated with a social security/health insurance system. Patients consulting the ENT department for hearing difficulties despite normal conventional pure-tone and speech audiometry performed in quiet.
Patients whose native language is French. Patients who have received oral and written information about the study and have provided free and informed consent.
Normal otoscopic examination:
No external auditory canal obstruction. No history of middle ear surgery (except childhood tympanostomy tube placement).
Presence of a translucent tympanic membrane in at least one quadrant, with no tympanic membrane perforation.
No signs of active otitis infection. No signs of cholesteatoma. Well-ventilated middle ear cavity confirmed by conventional tympanometry at 226 Hz.
\- Inclusion criteria for the control group:
Adult patients aged between 18 and 25 years. Patients seen during an ENT consultation at Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital, without any hearing complaints.
Patients with normal conventional pure-tone audiometry performed in quiet, defined as hearing thresholds between 0 and 20 dB HL across frequencies from 0.25 to 8 kHz, according to BIAP 2017 criteria.
No selection bias is expected, as normal hearing is defined as hearing thresholds between 0 and 20 dB HL (BIAP 2017). This age range was selected because it provides the highest likelihood of including individuals with normal auditory function.
-Exclus…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.