NAL-NL3

NAL-NL3: The Next Generation Fitting System

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NAL-NL3 is the next generation of hearing aid fitting prescription developed by the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL). Building on decades of audiological research, NAL-NL3 delivers a more accurate, data-driven, and patient-centred approach to hearing aid fittings—designed to meet the complex and evolving needs of hearing aid users today.

NAL-NL3 will be made available to hearing aid and verification equipment manufacturers later in 2025, and will subsequently be available for clinical use.

“Before creating NAL-NL3, it was crucial we first understood the gaps in hearing health care where fitting prescriptions were not addressing the needs of people with hearing difficulty. Through our research, we identified two key areas where NAL-NL3 modules could have the biggest impact. The first module offers a solution for people with hearing in noise difficulty but with minimal measurable hearing loss—a population that is typically denied access to traditional hearing help. A second module offers help for people with hearing loss in noisy situations, making listening in these environments, like pubs and restaurants, easier by improving listening comfort without compromising speech understanding.” – Dr Brent Edwards, Director, NAL

What is NAL-NL3?

NAL-NL3 is a prescriptive fitting system used by hearing care professionals to determine the optimal amplification for individuals based on their hearing loss. It upgrades NAL-NL2—currently the most widely used fitting system in the world—with a smarter, more adaptive approach that enables more personalised care.

Where earlier formulas were based on clinical research involving hundreds or thousands of individuals, NAL-NL3 is built on a foundation of millions of real-world hearing aid fittings, enhanced by machine learning-driven analysis, real-ear measurements, and in-the-moment user feedback.

How It Works

NAL-NL3 uses a combination of large-scale normative data and cutting-edge technology to generate precise fitting targets:

Machine Learning & Neural Networks: Millions of historical hearing aid fittings are analysed using advanced machine learning to understand optimal amplification patterns.
Data from hundreds of thousands of hearing aid fittings, providing a robust foundation for personalized and evidence-based recommendations.
Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA): Over 10,000 points of feedback from real users in real world listening situations where NL3 is being used.

These inputs allow NAL-NL3 to account for real-life variables and offer tailored recommendations that reflect how people truly hear and experience sound.

“I really enjoyed having the opportunity to hear better in those [noisy] situations. I feel quite hopeful that in the future there may be an option for me to get hearing aids and enjoy being my social self in loud environments.” – Research participant who tested hearing aids with NAL-NL3

Key Features & Modules

More Accurate Fitting Targets
Improved precision across the full spectrum of hearing loss types, including challenging configurations like reverse-slope and mixed losses.

Built-in Flexibility with Modules
NAL-NL3 introduces specialised fitting modules that allow hearing care professionals to better match amplification to user needs:

NL3 Minimal Hearing Loss Module
Designed for people with normal audiograms or near-normal hearing who still struggle with speech understanding. This module helps clinicians address a traditionally underserved population.

NL3 Comfort in Noise Module
Enables better comfort and clarity in noisy environments without compromising speech intelligibility. It can be implemented as a separate program in hearing aids for challenging situations.

A Legacy of Research and Innovation

NAL-NL3 is the culmination of nearly 50 years of innovation in hearing aid prescriptions at NAL:

NAL-NL1 (1999): Introduced fitting strategies based on loudness equalisation and speech intelligibility for nonlinear hearing aids.
NAL-NL2 (2011): Incorporated user-specific variables such as gender, language, hearing aid experience, and cultural preferences.
NAL-NL3 (2025): Powered by machine learning, large-scale data, and real-world user input for the most personalised and precise fitting formula yet.

Why NAL-NL3?

As the hearing healthcare landscape evolves, personalisation and precision are more important than ever. NAL-NL3 empowers hearing care professionals to move beyond generic “best-fit” approaches and offer truly individualised care. By using the latest science and technology, NAL-NL3 enables better patient outcomes, greater satisfaction, and a more confident clinical experience.

News around NAL-NL3

April 2025: Dr Brent Edwards in discussion with Ticker: Introducing NAL-NL3, the next generation of the world’s most used hearing aid fitting prescription

April 2025: Hearing Health Matters: New NAL-NL3 System Aims to Fill Gaps in Hearing Care for Under-Served Populations | Hearing Health & Technology Matters

March 2025: Hearing Practitioner: Groundbreaking NAL-NL3 fitting formula reveals new ways of fitting hearing aids – Hearing Practitioner Australia

March 2025: Hearing Tracker Review: NAL Introduces NAL-NL3 and New Modules for More Precise and Personalized Hearing Aid Fittings

NAL-NL3 was presented at American Academy of Audiology Conference at New Orleans, USA in Mar 2025 and Audiology Australia Conference, Adelaide, Australia in April 2025.