In this presentation, we will discuss the results of a series of studies from the National Centre for Audiology at Western University that examine strategies to improve signal to noise ratios implemented current hearing aids and hearing assistive technologies using DNN-based denoising (Ashkanichenarlogh et al. (2025); Folkeard et al. (2026)), directional microphone beamforming (Folkeard et al, 2024), and remote microphones including Auracast (Rahme et al. (2025), and in-progress). We will focus on hearing aid outcomes that measure speech intelligibility in noise and listening effort in both traditional and non-traditional real-world listening environments, but will also discuss how these advanced features affect subjective and objective measures of sound quality

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will explore some of the research studies that were conducted by the National Centre for Audiology on hearing aid technologies implemented on current hearing aids that seek to improve signal-to-noise ratio.
2. Participants will gain insight into the benefits of assistive devices such as remote microphones and Auracast in group settings such as exercise classes.
3. Participants will examine ways researchers are designing studies that maintain scientific rigour while ensuring results are relevant and applicable to real-world clinical practice.