Researchers at the University of Szeged are developing a pioneering method that could transform how the effectiveness of hearing devices is assessed. The new approach delivers objective results without requiring patients to participate actively in the evaluation. It has the potential to advance hearing diagnostics while further strengthening the University of Szeged’s leadership in otolaryngology and audiology.
Scientific progress begins with curiosity. It is the desire to understand the world that drives researchers to challenge established thinking, explore fundamental questions, and extend the boundaries of knowledge. At the University of Szeged, this spirit of inquiry is prompting researchers to rethink how the effectiveness of hearing devices is assessed – with the ultimate goal of improving hearing care worldwide.
A question that sparks innovation
Under the leadership of Professor László Rovó, Rector of the University of Szeged and Head of the Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head-Neck Surgery at the Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, SZTE has built decades of expertise in hearing rehabilitation. Depending on the severity of a patient’s hearing loss, rehabilitation may involve conventional hearing aids or surgically implanted hearing devices. While the benefits of these technologies are well established, accurately assessing their effectiveness remains a major clinical challenge.
This challenge raises a fundamental question: Are patients achieving the best possible hearing outcomes? Seeking to answer it, Dr. Roland Nagy, Assistant Professor and engineer at the Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head-Neck Surgery, developed a research project that recently secured Proof of Concept (PoC) funding from SZTE TTC Kft., the University’s technology transfer company.
Following the funding decision announced on May 7, 2026, Dr. Roland Nagy’s project, Objective Auditory Assessment Stimulated by Implantable and Non-Implantable Hearing Devices (project ID: TTCPOC008/2025), was awarded HUF 18.64 million in non-refundable Proof of Concept funding. Dr. Nagy serves as professional lead of the 12-month project, which began on May 1, 2026. The National Research, Development and Innovation Fund covers 90% of the project costs, while SZTE TTC Kft. provides the remaining 10% from its own resources.
Addressing a critical clinical challenge
Assessing the effectiveness of hearing devices can be particularly difficult when patients are unable to cooperate reliably with clinicians, as may be the case with infants, young children, and people with intellectual or cognitive impairments. To overcome this limitation, researchers at the University of Szeged are developing a comprehensive objective audiological assessment method and device system that delivers acoustic stimulation directly through the patient’s hearing aid or implant. By measuring the resulting auditory responses, the system can provide reliable data on how effectively the device supports hearing.
The method stands out for several reasons:
- The assessment is entirely independent of the patient's ability or willingness to actively participate.
- It provides a unified framework for evaluating both implantable hearing technologies – such as cochlear implants, middle ear implants, and bone conduction devices – and conventional, non-implantable hearing aids.
- It enables frequency-specific, intensity-dependent measurements, allowing clinicians and researchers to build an exceptionally detailed objective audiological profile.
- It supports a highly individualized approach to programming and fine-tuning specialized hearing devices, both during surgery and throughout follow-up care.
The project is currently at Technology Readiness Level 1 (TRL 1), the earliest stage of technology development, during which researchers are establishing the scientific foundations of the method. At this stage, they are investigating the relationship between subjective and objective hearing assessments to validate the underlying concept. The next milestone is Technology Readiness Level 2 (TRL 2), when the method’s practical feasibility will be demonstrated through laboratory experiments. Supporting this progression is Dr. Balázs Dimák, an engineer at SZTE’s Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head-Neck Surgery, whose decades of professional experience contribute to refining the methodology and validating the technology.
Shaping the future of hearing care
Drawing on the internationally recognized expertise of the Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School and the Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, the University of Szeged has long been at the forefront of hearing rehabilitation. Its pioneering interdisciplinary research brings together medical and engineering expertise to advance both clinical practice and technological innovation. This commitment is reflected in numerous achievements, including the University of Szeged becoming the first center in Hungary to provide an 11-year-old boy with the world’s first and only smart cochlear implant.
Building on the legacy of Hungarian Nobel Prize-winning biophysicist György Békésy, University of Szeged researchers are now developing a device and methodology with the potential to transform objective hearing assessment on a global scale. As the technology advances toward clinical application, it could improve the personalization of hearing rehabilitation and ultimately enhance the quality of care for people with hearing loss around the world. By combining decades of clinical expertise with cutting-edge technological innovation, the University of Szeged continues to help shape the future of audiology – both in Hungary and internationally.
Original Hungarian article by Ferenc Lévai
Photo: István Sahin-Tóth
