Brain changes that make understanding speech harder as we age
Aging Neural Systems and Communication Difficulties
This research looks at how normal brain aging slows how older adults gather and use information when listening, making it harder to understand and remember speech in noisy places.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11175520 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would take part in listening tasks that measure how quickly and how much information you use to recognize speech in background noise while researchers record your responses. The team will compare performance and brain activity between older and younger adults using behavioral tests and brain imaging. They will use a decision-making framework to separate whether difficulties come from slower evidence accumulation or from more cautious decision rules. Results will be linked to memory and everyday listening complaints to suggest targets for future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are older adults who notice trouble understanding speech in noisy environments, including those with mild hearing loss or age-related listening complaints.
Not a fit: People with severe or non–age-related communication problems (for example, recent stroke-related aphasia or profound hearing loss) may not benefit from findings focused on normal age-related listening changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to better strategies, hearing-device settings, or training programs to help older adults understand and remember speech in noisy situations.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have found that older adults often accumulate sensory evidence more slowly and show age-related brain changes, but applying this perceptual decision-making approach specifically to speech-in-noise is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Charleston, United States
- Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vaden, Kenneth I. — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Vaden, Kenneth I.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.