FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Concha Labs Announces Peer-Reviewed Clinical Trial Results Showing Meaningful Improvements for Adults with Hearing Loss
University of Minnesota-led study finds self-fitting hearing aids from Concha Labs deliver “statistically significant improvements” in understanding speech in noise and everyday listening
San Francisco, CA — Concha Labs, a hearing technology company focused on personalized hearing, today announced results from its first peer-reviewed clinical trial, published in Trends in Hearing. The study, led by researchers at the University of Minnesota and San Jose State University, found that Concha Sol™—a self-fitting hearing aid—delivered “statistically significant improvements” in speech understanding and real-world listening compared to traditional clinician-fitted devices.
Researchers evaluated the self-fit Concha Sol™ against audiologist fittings using two gold-standard metrics: the Quick Speech-In-Noise (QuickSIN) test and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) questionnaire.
Key Findings:
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On the QuickSIN test, Concha Sol™ users achieved an average score of 1.3 dB SNR—approaching the normal hearing range of 0–2 dB SNR—representing a statistically significant improvement in speech understanding in noise.
- On the APHAB questionnaire, which assesses ease of listening in daily life, users reported significantly improved scores (26.1), suggesting better real-world hearing performance.
“These results challenge long-standing assumptions about the limitations of self-fitting hearing aids. This study provides compelling evidence that self-fit OTC hearing aids—when thoughtfully designed—can achieve outcomes that are on par with, or exceed, traditional fittings. That’s an exciting development for both accessibility and innovation in hearing health.”
—Dr. Peggy Nelson, Associate Dean at the University of Minnesota
Reimagining Hearing Care Through Personalization
The idea for Concha Labs began with its founder, Amy Li, a Stanford MBA and UC Berkeley-trained bioengineer who lives with hearing loss herself. After struggling with conventional hearing aids that never quite felt right, Amy set out to create something more responsive to individual needs.
“When I wore an early prototype of Concha Sol™ to a holiday party and could understand people better than my friends with normal hearing, I realized we were building something special,” said Amy. “This clinical study confirms what we’ve seen anecdotally: with the right technology, self-fit hearing aids can deliver a meaningful, personalized experience. We see this as a way to help more people get started with hearing care—especially those who might otherwise go untreated.”
Concha Sol™ uses a patented personalization system that adapts to each user’s unique hearing profile. The device is available over the counter, through select clinics, and online at www.conchalabs.com.
The full study, “Validation of a Self-Fitting Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Intervention Compared with a Clinician-Fitted Hearing Aid Intervention: A Within-Subjects Crossover Design Using the Same Device,” is available via Sage Journals.
About Concha Labs
Concha Labs is a hearing technology company on a mission to personalize hearing. Backed by clinical research and a patented self-fitting system, Concha Labs is expanding access to high-quality hearing care—starting with Concha Sol™, its first over-the-counter hearing aid.
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Media Contact:
press@conchalabs.com