Gitte Keidser 

My primary work area is around establishing better methods for assessing the effect of hearing loss and rehabilitation (with hearing aids) on real-life communication.

I have a congenital hearing loss and grew up in a family with four out of six members suffering varying degrees of hearing impairment. So, when I during my training at the Technical University of Denmark came across courses on psychoacoustic and hearing aids my interest was immediately ignited, with both my masters and PhD work looking into user perception and experiences of state-of-the-art (at the time) hearing aid signal processing.

I first visited Eriksholm during my university years and did part of my master’s project there, suggested by then director at Eriksholm, Paul Erik Lyregaard. My first job was as a research assistant on project ODIN that was a collaboration between the three Danish hearing aid companies (Danavox, Oticon, Widex) and had a particular strong connection to Eriksholm where various specialized equipment used for the project was built and from where test persons were recruited. Since then, I always kept an eye on and admired the work done at Eriksholm, and I was hoping to be able to work there one day after a stint overseas for work experience. It finally happened, but not until after 30 years abroad…

The thought of assisting in improving the lives of millions of people living with a chronic hearing problem.

Oh, my time is running out…, but I have long been advocating for better ways to clinically – and in research – assess the real-life impact of a person’s hearing problem. This assessment should not only consider the effect on the person’s functionality but also on the person’s mental well-being.

I spend time running, swimming, cycling, hiking, knitting, reading, and enjoying art.

From both my professional and personal experience, the introduction of the fully digital, receiver-in-the-canal hearing aid – they made such a difference to both the sound quality and comfort.

A development that will prevent, or at least slow down, hair cell degeneration (presbycusis being the most common type of hearing loss) so that many more people can enjoy social life for longer.