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 in-person meeting of the project team
On December 5, 2025, the AgeHearing-QoL project team met for the first time in person at Charité in Berlin.
During the meeting, key project content was discussed and the next steps for the project's further progress were planned. The face-to-face exchange provided an important basis for cooperation and the further organization of the project.
Online survey launched
Our online survey for the AgeHearing-QoL project started on December 1!
People aged 40 and over with age-related hearing loss who would like to share their experiences are eligible to participate. The anonymous survey will run until February 28, 2026, and will help us to better understand the psychosocial aspects of quality of life in age-related hearing loss.
Further information about the survey can be found below.
First poster project presentation
On June the 26th 2025, the research team of the AgeHearing-QoL project was represented at the Medical Technology Innovation Forum at Landshut University of Applied Sciences.
The project was presented to the public for the first time in the form of a scientific poster. This provided initial insights into the project content and enabled the team to establish valuable contacts.
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.
Publications
- June 2025: Press release "Early care - better living with age-related hearing loss"
- June 2025: Presentation of a scientific poster at the Innovation Forum for Medical Technology
- August 2025: Article "Early care for a better quality of life with age-related hearing loss - the AgeHearing-QoL project" in Tinnitus-Forum 3/2025, member magazine of the German Tinnitus League (DTL), www.tinnitus-liga.de
- February 2026: Article “Project meeting in Berlin: Online study launched” in Tinnitus Forum 1/2026, member magazine of the German Tinnitus League (DTL), www.tinnitus-liga.de
- February 2026: Presentation of a scientific poster at the Erlangen Colloquium 2026
- May 2026: Article “AgeHearing-QoL Research Project: Start of the Clinical Trial at the Charité Tinnitus Center” in Tinnitus-Forum 2/2026, the member magazine of the German Tinnitus League (DTL), www.tinnitus-liga.de
- June 2026: Presentation of a scientific poster at the HeAL Conference in Padua
- July 2026: Presentation of a scientific poster at the Innovation Forum for Medical Technology
- July 2026: Several scientific presentations and poster presentations at the IAGG Conference in Amsterdam
- September 2026: Scientific presentation at the TRI Conference in Berlin
- September 2026: Scientific presentation and poster presentation at the DGGG Conference in Frankfurt am Main
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
Kathrin Inerle
University Medicine Greifswald
Consortium partner
Prof Dr med Birgit Mazurek
Charité - University Medicine Berlin
Consortium partner
Dr Kurt Steinmetzger
Charité - University Medicine Berlin
Consortium partner
Andreas Kandolf
Charité - University Medicine Berlin
Consortium partner
Prof Dr Matthias Rose
Charité - University Medicine Berlin
Consortium partner
Dr Rosa-Linde Fischer
ORCA Labs Europe - The Scientific Institute of WS Audiology
Associated Partner
Dr Julia Wolff
IGES Institute GmbH
Associated Partner
Prof Dr Nicole Trübswetter
Landshut University of Applied Sciences
Associated partner
Bernd Strohschein
German Tinnitus League e.V.
Associated partner
© blende11 Fotografen
Sabine Wagner
German Tinnitus League e.V.
Associated partner
© Paul Dudley
How can I take part in the studies?
We are currently looking for participants who would like to take part, in person in Berlin, in a newly developed programme designed to improve hearing ability and quality of life.
Are you interested in your hearing health and would you like to actively contribute to research at the same time? If so, we would be delighted to have you take part in our study at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
What can you expect when you visit us?
- A specially developed psychosocial training programme that teaches strategies for coping with hearing loss in everyday life and is designed to enhance your well-being
- Regular check-ups (3 appointments) and personalised support from an interdisciplinary study team
- The chance to receive custom-fitted, state-of-the-art hearing aids (in the relevant study groups), which you can keep after the study has finished
Who can take part?
Anyone aged 40 or over with early signs of, or existing, hearing loss.
What you’ll need:
- An internet-enabled device
- About 5 minutes to complete an anonymous preliminary assessment
How it works:
Simply scan the QR code or click on the button below to access the short preliminary assessment and then get in touch with the study coordinators.
Thank you very much for your interest and support!
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