Researchers in UNT's Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology in the College of Health and Public Service are working to understand how factors such as emotions, psychological wellbeing, social relationships and stress impact whether adults continue to use hearing aids once they're purchased.

The study by Erin Schafer, Sharon Miller and Boji Lam -- supported by a grant from the Hearing Industry Research Consortium -- includes 40 participants, between the ages of 50 and 85, who purchased hearing aids from the UNT Speech and Hearing Center.

Separately, Miller took part in the research of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) National Coverage Analysis, which led the federal agency to update its cochlear implant candidacy criteria and provide coverage for a broader spectrum of hearing loss.