This research study will use Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques to learn whether hearing aids do have an effect on cognitive function and the brain of older adults with hearing loss.

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Background: Sensorineural hearing loss is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions affecting older adults, and its occurrence is expected to increase with advancing age. Hearing aids have been proven to be a successful intervention for alleviating sensorineural hearing loss. Previous Research: A recent neuroimaging study has found that this type of hearing loss may cause parts of the brain to atrophy. Older adults suffering from brain atrophy associated with hearing loss will likely struggle to understand speech. Some of the psychosocial consequences of sensorineural hearing loss include depression and social isolation. There is also evidence that brain atrophy is correlated with the recruitment of compensatory mechanisms for auditory and language processing. Research is needed to focus on determining how this compensatory recruitment relates to cognitive decline. Study Objective: This study will use MRI techniques to determine whether hearing aids do have an effect on brain structure and cognitive function in older adults with sensorineural hearing loss. This will be established using a combination of auditory and visual stimuli to characterise participants hearing abilities. Method: Study participants will consist of older adults between 55 and 90 years with either mild or moderate symmetric sensorineural hearing loss. Consented participants will undergo hearing assessments, complete paper-based questionnaires, perform cognitive tests and undergo MRI scans at the time of recruitment (and again at 6 months). Participants will belong to one of 2 groups: first-time hearing aid users and long term hearing aid users. Study Hypotheses 1. Comparing the results of the cognition tests and the two MRI scans of the long-term and first-time hearing aid users over a 6 month period, it is expected that initially cognitive abilities will be less preserved in first-time hearing aid users than in long-term hearing aid users, but the wearing of hearing aids by first-time hearing aid users is expected to reduce this disadvantage within 6 months. 2. Also, both first-time hearing aid users and long-term hearing aid users are expected to practice lip reading in order to supplement their language processing, resulting in the use of both the auditory and visual components of the brain during the initial MRI sensory integration task. However differences are expected in terms of the plasticity within the visual and auditory cortex of long-term and first-time hearing aid users. 3. After wearing hearing aids for 6 months, it is expected that first-time hearing aid users will experience a decreased reliance on the visual networks of the brain for language processing with no change for long-term hearing aid users. Results from the study will inform strategies for aural rehabilitation, hearing aid delivery and future hearing loss intervention trials and neuroimaging studies. Results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.