Exploring how listening effort affects understanding and memory in older adults with hearing loss
Official title: Understanding the effects of listening effort on sentence processing and memory in sensorineural hearing loss: Evidence from simultaneous electrophysiology and pupillometry
Funded at University of Utah · NIH-10952179 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how people with hearing loss struggle to understand speech and how that can affect their memory, especially in older adults, to help find better ways to support their communication skills.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $47,840 |
| NIH project number | 3R21DC019437-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10952179 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults aged 21 and above who have been diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with normal hearing or those with hearing loss not classified as sensorineural may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how individuals with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) experience increased difficulty in understanding speech, which can lead to cognitive challenges such as memory issues. By using advanced techniques like electrophysiology and pupillometry, the study aims to uncover the neural mechanisms behind listening effort and its impact on language processing. The goal is to better understand the cognitive demands placed on older adults with hearing loss, ultimately leading to improved assessments and interventions for enhancing their communication abilities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better strategies for improving speech comprehension and memory in older adults with hearing loss.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding cognitive challenges associated with hearing loss, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Payne, Brennan — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Payne, Brennan
Related research
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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.