Apple Hearing Study: Characterization of Headphone Audio Levels, and Optional Wristwatch-Based Environmental Sound Levels, with Variable User Interface
The Apple Hearing Study is a partnership between the University of Michigan and Apple to study sound exposure and its impact on hearing health. This groundbreaking study will advance the understanding of how hearing could be impacted over time by exposure to sound at certain levels. The investigators will measure headphone and environmental sound exposures over time among participants, and determine how these exposures impact hearing and stress levels. US residents who own an iPhone, download the Apple Research app and consent to participate will be randomly assigned to two groups, one with a Basic user interface in the Research app, and one with an Advanced user interface. Users in the Advanced group will receive additional information about their exposures and be given additional surveys and hearing tests based on their music and environmental sound exposures. The study will provide investigators with a better understanding of listening behavior and its overall impact on hearing health. This information will in turn help guide public health policy and prevention programs designed to protect and promote hearing health in the US and globally.
• Age ≥ 18 years at time of eligibility screening, ascertained from self-reported date of birth. Potential subjects in the states of Alabama and Nebraska must be 19 or older (legal age of consent in these states), and 21 and older for any subjects in Puerto Rico.
• Live in the United States of America at time of eligibility screening, ascertained from self-report.
• Proficient in written and spoken English, defined by self-report.
• Participants must NOT share their iCloud account, iPhone or other devices such as Apple Watch with anyone else as this would make it challenging for researchers to use their information.
• Possession of the following, ascertained from automatic hardware/software/device pairing check:
‣ iPhone with iOS versions capable of supporting the Research app used to complete screening eligibility.
⁃ Optional: Apple Watch (any model) paired with iPhone; an Apple Watch Series 4 or later is required to share environmental sound levels.