Hidden Hearing Loss in Older Adults
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Hidden Hearing Loss. Basic parameters: from 60 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- China
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Hidden Hearing Loss in Older Adults: Mechanisms of Speech-in-noise Perception Deficits and Associated Central Compensation
Overview
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.
Primary outcome measures
- Conventional pure-tone audiometry (PTA) with extended high-frequency (0.25-16 kHz) [Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.]
- Gap Detection Test (GDT) [Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.]
- Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAEs) [Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.]
- Electrocochleography [Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.]
- Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) [Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.]
- Frequency-Following Response (FFR) [Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.]
- Central neural activity during Memory task measured by fMRI [Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment]
- Central neural activity during listening task measured by fMRI [Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
- Depressive symptoms assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) [Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment]
- Anxiety symptoms assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) [Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.]
- Cognitive function assessed using Digit Span test. [Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Aged 60 years or older;
- Bilateral pure-tone average hearing thresholds across 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz ≤ 25 dB HL;
- Self-reported hearing difficulties identified during previous hearing screening;
- Fluent in Mandarin Chinese;
- No history of otologic disease, ear trauma, ototoxic medication history, or long-term noise exposure;
- No known neurological or psychiatric disorders, or other major medical conditions that may affect nervous system function.
Exclusion criteria
- Unable to comply with or complete the study assessments;
- Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score < 24 during previous health screening;
- Refuse to participate in the study
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
China · 1 center
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Sch — Shanghai
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07646119 · SH9H-2026-T21-2