Group singing benefits for older adults with hearing loss

Speech-in-noise, Psychosocial, and Heart Rate Variability Outcomes of Group Singing or Audiobook Club Interventions for Older Adults With Unaddressed Hearing Loss: a SingWell Project Multisite, Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study tests if group singing can help older adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss feel better and understand speech in noisy environments compared to joining an audiobook club.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 210 (estimated)
• Ages: 60 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Toronto Metropolitan University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 7 sites (Los Angeles, California and 6 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06580847 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the potential benefits of group singing for older adults aged 60 and above who have unaddressed mild-to-moderate hearing loss. It employs a multisite, randomized controlled trial design to assess improvements in speech-in-noise perception and psychosocial wellbeing. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a group singing intervention or an audiobook club, with outcomes measured through robust statistical analysis. The study aims to provide stronger evidence regarding the positive effects of group singing compared to previous smaller studies.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 60 years and older with bilateral mild-to-moderate hearing loss who do not currently use hearing aids or other assistive listening devices.

Not a fit: Patients with significant cognitive impairment or those currently engaged in regular music learning or audiobook clubs may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance communication abilities and overall wellbeing for older adults suffering from hearing loss.

How similar studies have performed: While previous studies have suggested benefits of group singing, this approach is novel in its robust design and larger sample size.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adults aged 60 years and older;
2. Bilateral mild-to-moderate hearing loss (20-49 dB hearing level), measured using four-frequency pure-tone average across both ears (4FPTA) measured at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, and 4000 Hz;
3. Unaddressed hearing loss (i.e., participants must not currently use a hearing aid, cochlear implant, or assistive listening device);
4. No significant cognitive impairment, to be assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment for people with hearing impairment (MoCA-H), with participants requiring a score ≥ 24;
5. Not use a pacemaker or anti-arrhythmic agents/medications;
6. Not currently participating in regular active music learning (e.g., choir, formal music training) or audiobook clubs within the last year; and
7. Sufficient language capacity to understand and complete the test materials. Note: all materials will be presented written and/or aurally in English at the sites located in Canada, United States of America, and Australia; Dutch at the Netherlands site; and German at the Germany site.

Where this trial is running

Los Angeles, California and 6 other locations

• Brain and Creativity Institute, University of Southern California — Los Angeles, California, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Flinders University — Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Memorial University of Newfoundland — St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Toronto Metropolitan University — Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Recruiting)
• Concordia University — Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Carl von Ossietzky Universitat Oldenburg — Oldenburg, Germany (Not_yet_recruiting)
• University of Groningen — Groningen, Netherlands (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Chi Yhun Lo, PhD

Conditions Hearing Loss, Age-Related; Speech Intelligibility; Psychosocial Functioning; Hearing loss; speech in noise; psychosocial wellbeing