Berlin, 31 March 2025

Partner of the AgeHearing-QoL research project

Today, we are pleased to introduce AgeHearing-QoL, a new research project in which EUTINNET – the European Tinnitus Self-Help Network, founded in 2019 under the umbrella of our foundation – is a cooperating partner. The project aims to explore innovative, early-stage care strategies to enhance the quality of life of older adults with hearing loss.

Unfortunately, although various training programs already exist in auditory rehabilitation to improve hearing, psychosocial factors have so far been largely neglected. This is truely hard to believe, since hearing is not just a process that takes place in the ear, but one that occurs through its interaction with cognitive processes in the brain, which subsequently influences perception, focus, and psychosocial well-being.”
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Now – what is AgeHearing-QoL about? The project will begin with a study investigating which psychosocial factors are particularly important for the quality of life of people with age-related hearing loss. Based on these findings, a practical, everyday training program for those affected will being developed to significantly improve their quality of life. ⁠
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Afterwards, in a six-month study at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the impact of this program on participants’ with age-related geringer bis moderater Schwerhörigkeit will be examined, including the effects of earlier provision of hearing aids, either alone or in combination with individualized psychosocial training. ⁠

The results will be summarised in recommendations for the early care of ageing people with hearing loss and presented to the public.⁠

AgeHearing-Qol is being conducted in cooperation with Landshut University of Applied Sciences, Greifswald University Hospital and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Numerous practical partners are also involved, including the German Association for the Hard of Hearing (Deutscher Schwerhörigenbund e.V.), the German Tinnitus League (Deutsche Tinnitus-Liga e.V.), the German Foundation Tinnitus and Hearing Charité  (Deutsche Stiftung Tinnitus und Hören Charité), the IGES Institute, hearing aid manufacturer WSAudiology and other experts from the field of healthcare.

The project is funded by the German Innovation Committee of the Joint Federal Committee and will run until March 2008. We will keep you posted!