An Evaluation of Binaural Beamforming In Hearing Aids
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An Evaluation of Binaural Beamforming In Commercially Available Hearing Aids
IRAS ID
361451
Contact name
Barry Bardsley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Swansea University
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The aim of our research is to investigate to what extent Binaural Beamforming technology in hearing aids helps hearing impaired people to understand speech in noisy environments. Although hearing aids use specific algorithms to amplify sounds and make them audible, difficulty in understanding speech in noise remains one of the main complaints. This problem negatively affects the social participation and quality of life of hearing aid users.
One technology designed to improve speech understanding in noise is beamforming, where multiple microphones work together to focus on sounds coming from a specific direction. When two microphones within a single hearing aid operate together, this is called unilateral beamforming, while when four microphones across two hearing aids operate together, this is called binaural beamforming. Beamforming technology creates a narrower directional focus, allowing speech sounds to be distinguished more clearly from background noise, and as a result, provides improved speech intelligibility.
This study will include adults aged 18 years and over with symmetrical hearing loss. Testing will take place in the laboratory located in the Glyndwr Building at Swansea University, Singleton Campus. The study is funded by Swansea University. Participants will be fitted with commercially available hearing aids, which will be programmed according to their individual hearing loss.
During testing, participants will be seated at the centre of a circular array of loudspeakers. While background noise is presented, sentences consisting of five key words will be played, and participants will be asked to repeat them. The entire test session, including breaks, will last approximately two hours.
Although participants may not receive direct benefits, the study will provide valuable knowledge that may help improve the design of future hearing aids. In the long term, this could support people with hearing loss to better understand speech in noisy everyday environments, such as restaurants.REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
26/WS/0030
Date of REC Opinion
11 Mar 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion