Are AirPods Pro hearing aids?
What the FDA's September 12, 2024 authorization of Apple's Hearing Aid Feature actually approved, who it fits, and where it falls short of a dedicated hearing aid.
Read the explainer →
Research Library
Hearing health research, written for adults and their families.
Our research library covers OTC hearing technology, age-related hearing loss, speech-in-noise comprehension, and the consumer decisions people face when buying their first hearing device. Every entry references public clinical or regulatory sources.
Last reviewed: May 13, 2026 · Reviewed by: Dr Jeffrey Smith, AuD, Editor-in-Chief
In short
National Hearing Institute's research covers age-related hearing loss, FDA-regulated OTC hearing aids, speech-in-noise comprehension, the relationship between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline, and the consumer-protection questions buyers face. Every claim traces to a public primary source — FDA guidance, NIDCD statistics, the WHO World Report on Hearing, or peer-reviewed publications in journals such as The Lancet, JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, and Trends in Hearing.
Featured research
How much do hearing aids cost in 2026?
Current OTC and prescription price ranges, where the money actually goes, Costco pricing, and how to reduce out-of-pocket cost.
Read the guide →Does Medicare cover hearing aids?
Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, HSA/FSA, VA, Medigap, and cochlear implants — the full 2026 coverage picture.
Read the guide →Do hearing aids help tinnitus?
What the AAO-HNS Clinical Practice Guideline and Cochrane review actually conclude. When tinnitus warrants a clinician visit rather than a consumer device.
Read the review →Hearing loss and dementia: what ACHIEVE found
A careful read of the 2023 ACHIEVE randomised controlled trial and how it fits with the 2024 Lancet Commission framework.
Read the explainer →How to read an audiogram
Plain-English guide to audiogram symbols, dB HL severity bands, common configurations of hearing loss, and what an audiogram cannot tell you.
Read the explainer →Signs of hearing loss in adults
The 10 most common signals and when each one warrants a hearing screen.
Read the article →What causes hearing loss?
Sensorineural, conductive, mixed — the full anatomical breakdown of causes.
Read the article →Sudden hearing loss: medical emergency
The 14-day window, AAO-HNS 2019 guideline, and why time-to-treatment matters.
Read the article →Hearing loss in one ear
Why unilateral loss is a clinical red flag; CROS/BiCROS and cochlear implant options.
Read the article →Noise-induced hearing loss
NIOSH 85 dBA, the 4 kHz notch, what's recoverable, and how to prevent damage.
Read the article →Can hearing loss be reversed?
What's recoverable, what isn't, and what comes closest.
Read the article →Why does everyone sound like they're mumbling?
High-frequency hearing loss explained — consonants, vowels, and the speech banana.
Read the article →How to clean hearing aids
The daily and weekly routine. HowTo schema with 7 steps.
Read the guide →How long do hearing aids last?
Average lifespan by category, warranty coverage, and when to replace.
Read the article →Hearing aid batteries explained
Zinc-air sizes, the brown tab, rechargeable vs disposable, and life expectations.
Read the article →Do I need one hearing aid or two?
The binaural benefit, auditory deprivation, and when one is enough.
Read the article →Best OTC Hearing Aids for Seniors in 2026
How to evaluate over-the-counter hearing aids using speech clarity, comfort, usability, trial period, and warranty — not just price.
Read the guide →How Self-Fitting Hearing Aids Work
What the FDA's self-fitting category actually includes, how in-app hearing tests calibrate amplification, and the limits of self-fitting.
Read the explainer →OTC vs Prescription Hearing Aids
What changed with the 2022 FDA OTC rule, who each category serves, and the practical differences in fitting, follow-up, and cost.
Read the comparison →Research focus areas
Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis)
About 1 in 3 U.S. adults aged 65–74 has hearing loss, and nearly half of those 75 and older do, per the NIDCD. We focus on how this gradual change affects daily life and what evidence-informed support looks like.
OTC hearing aid technology
Since the FDA's Final Rule took effect October 17, 2022, U.S. adults 18+ with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss can buy regulated OTC hearing aids without a clinic visit. We track product categories, capabilities, and limitations.
Speech-in-noise comprehension
The most common complaint is not "things are quieter" — it's "I can't follow conversations in restaurants." We cover how directional microphones, noise reduction, and multi-channel processing address this.
Untreated hearing loss & cognition
The 2024 Lancet standing Commission on dementia (Livingston et al.) identifies hearing loss as one of the largest potentially modifiable midlife risk factors for dementia. The 2023 ACHIEVE randomised trial (Lin et al.) tested whether a hearing intervention reduces 3-year cognitive decline. We summarise what this evidence does — and does not — show.
Consumer protection & buying risk
Trial periods, return policies, and warranties vary widely. We document what to look for and how to verify a seller's claims before purchase.
Family-facing communication
Family members are often the first to notice hearing changes. We publish education aimed at the people supporting a loved one through a buying decision.
How this research is produced. Our writers review FDA guidance, peer-reviewed studies, public health agency reporting (NIDCD, WHO), and consumer protection sources. See our methodology and editorial standards for how claims are sourced and reviewed.