The future of hearing: Dr. Husstedt explains new technologies!

The future of hearing: Dr. Husstedt explains new technologies!

On May 6, 2025, Dr. Hendrik Husstedt will give his inaugural lecture at the University of Lübeck. The topic of his lecture will be “Between testing and research in hearing acoustics”. He will emphasize the central role of human hearing and its ability to perceive a wide range of sounds.

The event begins at 5:00 p.m. in the AM4 lecture hall. Dr. Husstedt will explain the significant effects of hearing loss, which often has major limitations for those affected and their relatives. One of his main arguments will be the need for modern technology, particularly sophisticated air-conduction hearing aids.

Importance of hearing aids

Air conduction hearing aids are characterized by their innovative functionality: they record ambient noise, amplify it and reproduce it. Comprehensive signal processing takes place, which suppresses disturbing noises. Using directional microphones, these devices can automatically detect different listening situations. The quality and functionality of these medical devices are crucial because they must offer real benefits for users.

The reimbursement of costs by statutory health insurance companies depends heavily on the actual use of the devices, which requires a comparison of the functional scope. Only through individual selection of devices can the specific needs of users be met. Dr. During his lecture, Husstedt will also emphasize the importance of quality assurance and transparency in hearing acoustics.

Current state of research

In addition to the topic of the inaugural lecture, there are relevant current studies on the effectiveness of hearing aids, which represent an important part of ongoing research in the field of hearing acoustics. One example is a comprehensive study that examined the effectiveness (Q) of hearing aid provision in patients with profound hearing loss bordering on deafness. This study included data from 64 patients and showed that over 67% of hearing aid settings met target curves within ±5 dB. PMC reports that in many cases the NAL-NL2 and DSL v5.0 matching formulas do not provide enough gain to ensure the maximum achievable monosyllabic understanding (mEV).

The results make it clear that the challenge of hearing aid fitting remains. Speech understanding is often difficult to infer from pure-tone audiograms, highlighting the need for further research into alternative prescriptions.

Epidemiological connections

The prevalence of hearing disorders in the population is another important area of ​​research. An analysis of epidemiological data shows that approximately 20.4% of the population worldwide is affected by hearing problems, with 0.8% suffering from profound to deaf hearing loss. These data highlight the need for more efficient hearing aid supply models and a differentiated view of supply rates. EGMS highlights that younger subjects often have a higher percentage of hearing loss when it comes to understanding speech compared to hearing sounds.

Future research is needed to better understand the influence of gain settings on speech understanding at different input levels. These findings are important not only for scientists, but also for the development of technologies.

Overall, the May 6 event will help raise awareness of the challenges and advances in hearing care. Dr. Husstedt will provide insights into modern hearing aid functions and their benefits for wearers, supported by technical measurements and hearing tests.