My current research agenda consists of three pathways. One pathway examines speech perception deficits in listeners with impaired hearing. Recent studies conducted in collaboration with colleagues in our department have examined the effects of spectral shaping and aging on these perceptual deficits. These data have implications for both hearing and aging research. A second pathway examines the efficacy and effectiveness of digital hearing instruments. Research from my laboratory has focused on determining the expansion parameters that alleviate noise complaints while preserving speech understanding. The third pathway examines the ability to tolerate background noise while listening to speech. Recent research conducted within my laboratory and within our department has focused on determining the mechanism responsible for noise tolerance as well as possible ways to improve noise tolerance for hearing instrument users. Results from the collaborative efforts of our faculty have been featured in a special issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology.