Hidden Hearing Loss
Conditions
Keywords
Cochlear Synaptopathy, Age-related Hearing Loss
Brief summary
The goal of this observational study is to investigate whether speech-in-noise perception deficits in older adults aged 60 years or older with objectively normal hearing thresholds are due to impaired ability of processing temporal cues in speech signals. The study further aims to examine whether cognitive and cortical mechanisms provide compensatory support for speech perception in challenging listening environments.
Detailed description
This observational study aims to investigate the peripheral auditory mechanisms underlying speech-in-noise perception deficits in older adults with hidden hearing loss, as well as the potential central compensatory mechanisms involved. The study will recruit community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older who has objectively normal hearing thresholds on pure-tone audiometry but self-report difficulties understanding speech in noisy or complex listening environments. The investigators hypothesize that speech-in-noise perception deficits in these individuals are associated with impaired ability of processing temporal cues in speech signals under challenging listening conditions. The investigators further hypothesize that cortical mechanisms involved in speech-in-noise processing may be recruited to facilitate speech understanding, although the extent of such compensation in the aging brain may vary across individuals. The study will collect demographic, lifestyle, and health-related information. Participants will undergo comprehensive audiological assessments, neurophysiological testing, behavioral evaluations, and neuroimaging examinations. These measures will be used to characterize the ability of the peripheral auditory system to process temporal acoustic information and to investigate potential central compensatory mechanisms associated with speech perception in complex listening environments.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Aged 60 years or older; 2. Bilateral pure-tone average hearing thresholds across 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz ≤ 25 dB HL; 3. Self-reported hearing difficulties identified during previous hearing screening; 4. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese; 5. No history of otologic disease, ear trauma, ototoxic medication history, or long-term noise exposure; 6. No known neurological or psychiatric disorders, or other major medical conditions that may affect nervous system function.
Exclusion criteria
1. Unable to comply with or complete the study assessments; 2. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score \< 24 during previous health screening; 3. Refuse to participate in the study
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional pure-tone audiometry (PTA) with extended high-frequency (0.25-16 kHz) | Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment. | This measure reflects the overall audibility of the individual. Together with the other measures listed under the primary outcome measure, it provides a comprehensive assessment of participants' peripheral auditory function. |
| Gap Detection Test (GDT) | Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment. | This behavioral test assesses an individual's ability to detect brief silent gaps in an auditory signal, reflecting temporal resolution within the auditory system |
| Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAEs) | Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment. | This objective measure evaluates cochlear outer hair cell. Together with the other measures listed under the primary outcome measure, it provides a comprehensive assessment of participants' peripheral auditory function. |
| Electrocochleography | Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment. | This objective measure assesses cochlear and auditory nerve function. Together with the other measures listed under the primary outcome measure, it provides a comprehensive assessment of participants' peripheral auditory function. |
| Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) | Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment. | This objective measure assesses auditory nerve and brainstem function. Together with the other measures listed under the primary outcome measure, it provides a comprehensive assessment of participants' peripheral auditory function. |
| Frequency-Following Response (FFR) | Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment. | This objective measure assesses the neural encoding of sound by recording phase-locked neural responses to auditory stimuli. It reflects the ability of the auditory system to encode and resolve temporal information. |
| Central neural activity during Memory task measured by fMRI | Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment | — |
| Central neural activity during listening task measured by fMRI | Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Depressive symptoms assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) | Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment |
| Anxiety symptoms assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) | Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment. |
| Cognitive function assessed using Digit Span test. | Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment. |
Countries
China
Contacts
CONTACTRong Tian
Outcome results
None listed