What is our project about?
Many things change as we get older - including our hearing. In Germany, around every second person over 65 is affected by at least mild hearing loss. This can make everyday life more difficult and reduce quality of life. Early support is therefore particularly important.
However, one important component of care has so far received little attention: psychosocial influences, such as social support or dealing with change. This is precisely where our project comes in. We want to develop a training programme that strengthens ageing people with hearing difficulties in these areas - for a better quality of life in everyday life.
How do we go about this?
Firstly, we analyse which psychosocial factors are particularly relevant. Based on this, we are developing a training programme that we ultimately want to test in a clinical trial. The aim is to create an effective programme that can later be used in care practice.
Who can take part?
We are looking for adults aged 40 and over who would like to actively support our project - either by taking part in surveys or in the clinical trial. Every participation helps to improve the care of people with hearing impairments.
What's new in the project?
First press release published
The first press release on our AgeHearing-QoL project was published on 3 June 2025 under the title "Early care - living better with age-related hearing loss".
In it, we provide insights into our goals, the start of the project and the upcoming next steps.
New logo for AgeHearing-QoL
Our research project continues to pick up speed - now with its own face.
With the newly developed logo, AgeHearing-QoL now has a memorable recognisable symbol. It accompanies our endeavour to improve the quality of life of ageing people with hearing impairments.
We look forward to sharing this next step with you and are excited about everything that lies ahead!
Kickoff meeting at the start of the project
The AgeHearing-QoL research project kicked off on 9 April 2025 with a successful kick-off meeting. At the meeting, all those involved in the project came together for the first time to discuss the content and next steps.
We look forward to productive collaboration and exciting findings in the coming years.
Taking part in our project is very easy:
As soon as our online survey starts, you will find a QR code and a link here that you can use to take part directly.
If you are already interested in taking part - either in the survey or in the clinical study in which we are testing our training programme - please write to us using the contact form opposite. We will then contact you personally with further information.
We look forward to your support!
Who are we?
Prof Dr Bettina Williger
Landshut University of Applied Sciences
Consortium partner
Lisa Incerti
Landshut University of Applied Sciences
Consortium partner
Prof Dr Susanne Wurm
University Medicine Greifswald
Consortium partner
Dr Markus Wettstein
University Medicine Greifswald
Consortium partners
Prof Dr med Birgit Mazurek
Charité - University Medicine Berlin
Consortium partner
Dr Kurt Steinmetzger
Charité - University Medicine Berlin
Consortium partner
Prof Dr Matthias Rose
Charité - University Medicine Berlin
Consortium partner
Dr Julia Wolff
IGES Institute GmbH
Associated Partner
Bernd Strohschein
German Tinnitus League e.V.
Associated partner
Sabine Wagner
German Tinnitus League e.V.
Associated partner
Which partners are supporting the project?
Landshut University of Applied Sciences
Charité - University Medicine Berlin
University Medicine Greifswald
Deutscher Scherhörigenbund e.V.
German Tinnitus League e.V
German Tinnitus & Hearing Foundation Charité
ORCA Labs Europe
The Scientific Institute of WS Audiology
IGES Institute GmbH
Questions & answers about the project
The AgeHearing-QoL project is being funded by the Innovation Fund of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) with around 1.4 million euros.
The fund supports innovative approaches to improving healthcare in Germany.
Find out more
The AgeHearing-QoL project will run for three years - from April 2025 to March 2028 - during which time all study phases will be carried out.
Further information on the AgeHearing-QoL project can be found on the following websites:
- Project website of Greifswald University Medical Centre
- Project website of Landshut University of Applied Sciences
- Project website of the Joint Federal Committee
Contact us
Do you have any questions or would you like more information about the project?
Then we look forward to hearing from you at:
agehearing-qol@haw-landshut.de
We will get back to you personally as soon as possible.
Postal address:
Landshut University of Applied Sciences
Am Lurzenhof 1
84036 Landshut