To improve hearing aid performance, especially in noisy situations, NIDCD has entered into two collaborative ventures. The first was formed between NIDCD and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to expand and intensify hearing aid research and development. The program includes a contract for the development of hearing aids as well as clinical trials. The knowledge gained will be used to help people choose the best hearing aid for their particular type of hearing impairment.
In the second collaboration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the VA have joined NIDCD in surveying all Federal laboratories for acoustic and electronic technologies that might improve hearing aids. The most promising technologies have been presented to auditory scientists and hearing aid manufacturers in the hope of forming research partnerships that will lead to commercial application of these technologies.
