Thank you for your interest in supporting development of HearWB, a digital companion for empowered hearing.

Thank you for your interest in supporting development  of HearWB, a digital companion for empowered hearing.

We are the National Acoustic Laboratories, our mission is to lead the world in hearing research and evidence based innovation to improve hearing health and transform the lives of people with hearing difficulties.

Our team of world class research is an innovators focused on projects that deliver impact – centering the customer and their unmet needs through truly translationally research.

Funded by the Australian federal government through a competitive National Health and Medical Research Council grant, we are co-developing an educational health behaviour change mobile application designed for new hearing aid users, targeted to improve communication, social, and emotional wellbeing associated with hearing loss: HearWB.

HearWB is currently under development

To help us create a better product, one that meets the needs of adults with hearing difficulties, we are conducting ongoing research to explore who uses the app, how they use it and what they like about it.  

As part of this research, we will monitor how users interact with the app, including the information they input. Some app users may receive email invitations to complete a brief online survey or to share their experiences with us via a phone or video interview. Participation is entirely voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time.

For more information, please read here the study Participant Information Form:

The National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL) is the research arm of Hearing Australia, a statutory government authority. NAL is funded from the government, from sponsors, grants and from commercialisation of its research. The results of this research will generally be reported on in scientific publications and on the NAL website which can be accessed from www.nal.gov.au.  Occasionally, a research project might additionally form part of a researcher’s Master’s or PhD thesis.

Participant Information and Consent Form

Project title: Feedback on our Hearing Wellbeing App

Project number: G24.02
Date: December 2024

Project Lead: Bec Bennett bec.bennett@nal.gov.au

Information for Participants

Before you decide whether to take part in this study, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what is involved. Ask us if there is anything that is not clear to you or if you would like more information. If you decide you want to take part in the research project, you will be asked to give consent. You will be given a copy of this Participant Information and Consent Form to keep. By giving consent, you are telling us that you:

  • -Understand what you have read.
  • -Consent to take part in the research project.
  • -Consent to the use of your de-identified personal information as described.

Background information

Hearing loss affects millions of adults worldwide, and managing it effectively involves more than just using hearing aids—it also requires access to educational resources and support.

We partnered with adults with hearing difficulties to develop a new health app for adults who have hearing loss, that will help them better manage the communication, social and emotional wellbeing impacts of hearing loss. Our Hearing Wellbeing app will include information, educational videos, activities, and ways for people to self-evaluate and track their progress.  

This study seeks to understand how people wish to interact with app.

We are looking for people to download the app on their phone and use it for 2 weeks, and then provide feedback so that we can improve the app – make it more engaging, interesting and informative.

By involving adults with hearing loss in every step of the design, development and testing process, we aim to create a solution that truly meets your needs and preferences.

Who can take part?

You can take part in this research if you are:

  • -An adult over 18 years of age
  • -You own a smart phone and can install apps on it

What is involved?

  1. Consent to Participate: When you set up your user profile within the app,you will be provided with this Participant Information Form and be asked to provide consent to take part in the study.
  2. App Usage: You will then be able to use the app as often or as little as you like within a 2-week period.

During this time, we will record which lessons you open and how long you spend in the app so that we can see if there are patterns in the way people interact with the app – for example, Are there some topics that most people wish to learn about and other topics that no one accesses? Do people read all the way to the end or are the lessons too long for people to finish in one setting? 

  1. User Survey: Approximately two weeks after you first download the app, you will be emailed a link to a brief online survey where you can provide feedback on your experience and suggestions for how we can improve the app.
  2. User Interview: Some people will be asked to also meet with us to further explain their experiences when using the app. The interview is optional.  
  3. Ongoing App Use: You will have continued access to the app for a full two months, allowing those who wish to complete all the lessons to do so. After the initial two-week testing period, using the app is optional. Please note that access to the app will end after two months.

While app usage data will continue to be collected during this time, no additional surveys or interviews will be conducted beyond the initial 2-week testing period. You are welcome to explore the app at your own pace during this extended access.

What data will we be recording?

We will be recording which lessons you open and how long you spend in the app, as well as any data you enter into the app, such as answering a question or completing a survey. 

The app does NOT access your phones other apps, camera, or personal details. We will also record the survey results and the interviews.

Privacy of information and research outcomes

NAL is the research branch of Hearing Australia. We are committed to protecting the privacy of our clients and research participants. You can access this Privacy Policy here Hearing Australia – Privacy Policy – Hearing Australia  or by contacting NAL.  It outlines how we manage personal information we hold about you, how you may access or correct personal information, or how you can make a complaint if you are not satisfied with the way we have handled your personal information.   

The personal information and data NAL and Hearing Australia collect about you as part of a research project will be treated as strictly confidential. To protect your privacy, you will be identified by a unique code throughout and after the study. Your name and other information that can directly identify you will be stored securely by NAL and will never be shared or made public. The data aggregated by NAL may be used in future research and publications, however, you will not be identified in any way.  We will not disclose your individual personal information in any reports of results.  

What will happen to the information collected about me? (Privacy & Data Protection)

Your personal information will be collected, used, and stored for this study by the Investigator, and their respective research project personnel at The National Acoustics Laboratories office for a period of 7 years. The National Acoustics Laboratories will collect information such as your name, contact details, and information about your employment and experience.

Access to your personal information for verification

Some people can access all your information at the research location, including your name and other directly identifiable information. This is necessary to check whether the study is being conducted in an appropriate manner in line with regulatory requirements and good research practice. Persons who have access to your information for review are: the research team, representatives of the committee that monitors the safety of the study, and national and international supervisory authorities. They will keep your information confidential and only disclosed as required by law.

Your rights

Participation is entirely voluntary. Although we value your participation, you are free to decide whether you will participate, and to withdraw from the research at any time without giving a reason. 

What are the possible benefits of taking part?

Influence Product Development: Participants will have the opportunity to provide direct feedback on the educational app lessons, influencing the development and refinement of the content to better meet user needs.

Early Access: Participants will gain early access to the latest version of the app, allowing them to explore new educational materials and strategies for managing hearing loss before they are widely available. Engaging with the app’s lessons may provide participants with valuable skills and strategies to better manage their own hearing loss, potentially leading to improved communication and quality of life.

What are the possible risks and disadvantages of taking part?

Apart from giving up your time, we do not expect that there will be any risks or inconveniences associated with taking part in this study.

What if I withdraw from this research project?

You may withdraw from the study at any time. If you wish to withdraw formally, please notify a member of the research team in writing.

If you decide to leave the research project, the researchers will not collect additional personal information from you, although personal information already collected will be retained to ensure that the results of the research project can be measured properly and to comply with the law. You should be aware that data collected up to the time you withdraw will form part of the research project results. If you do not want your data to be included, please tell the researchers when you withdraw from the research project and you will be asked to complete and sign a ‘Withdrawal of Consent’ form; this will be provided to you by the research team.

Who is organising and funding the research?

The National Acoustics Laboratories (NAL) will be conducting the research project. This work is funded by NAL and supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) research grant. 

Distress or concerns
We have been careful to make sure that the app and survey questions will not cause you any distress.  However, if you feel worried about any of the questions you do not need to answer them.  If any part of the study causes you any concern or upsets you, please let us know so that we can support you. Please also feel free to contact Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline 13 11 14 for support.

Contact details of researchers

If you have any questions or concerns about this project at any stage, please feel free to contact: Dr Bec Bennett at bec.bennett@nal.gov.au 

Complaint mechanism

The ethical aspects of this research project have been approved in accordance with the process outlined by Hearing Australia Human Research Ethics Committee. If you have any complaints or reservations about any ethical aspect of this research, you may contact the Committee through the Secretary (Vivienne Marnane) on 02 9412 6972 or Vivienne.Marnane@nal.gov.au. Any complaints will be treated in confidence and investigated, and you will be informed of the outcome.

Consent

By creating a HearWB account in the app, you consent to the following:

  • I have read and understood the provided Information and Consent statement.
  • I voluntarily choose to participate in this research and understand I can withdraw at any time.
  • I consent to the use of information provided or held by National Acoustic Laboratories for the purpose of this research project.
  • I consent to the use of de-identified information from this study for future research conducted by NAL.

The ethical aspects of this project have been approved by the Hearing Australia Human Research Ethics Committee.

This project adheres to the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007), which is designed to protect the rights and interests of research participants.