Improving speech understanding in older adults through cognitive training

Auditory-cognitive Training Paradigm (NIH P01 Project - Speech Perception With High Cognitive Demand)

This study is testing a new training program to help older adults aged 65 to 85 understand speech better in noisy places.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Ages: 65 Years to 85 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Maryland, College Park (Academic / other)
• Locations: 2 sites (College Park, Maryland and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT04997577 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This project aims to enhance speech perception in older adults aged 65 to 85 who experience difficulties understanding speech in noisy environments. It evaluates a new auditory-cognitive training paradigm that focuses on improving speech-in-noise perception through targeted training sessions. Participants will be assigned to either an active control group or an auditory training group, where they will engage in tasks that require them to focus on one speaker while ignoring another. The study will measure neural and behavioral changes using advanced techniques like pupillometry and magnetoencephalography. The goal is to provide a tailored training experience that adapts to each individual's needs.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults aged 65 to 85 with normal hearing and a high school diploma or higher education.

Not a fit: Patients with middle-ear or inner-ear pathology, learning disorders, or those who cannot complete the training sessions may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this training could significantly improve communication abilities and quality of life for older adults facing speech understanding challenges.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that auditory-cognitive training can provide benefits for adults with hearing loss, suggesting potential success for this novel approach in normal-hearing older adults.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Aged between 65 - 85 years
* Normal hearing (pure tone thresholds ≤ 25 dB HL from 250 - 8000 Hz)
* Self-reported normal or corrected-to-normal vision
* Dominant language: American English
* Education: a high school diploma or higher education level

Exclusion Criteria:

* Middle-ear or inner-ear pathology
* Non-native speaker of English
* Inability to complete all training sessions within a pre-specified time window (e.g., due to unexpected schedule restrictions)
* Learning disorders
* Metal in body that induces a data artifact for MEG recording (e.g., excessive metal dental work) or that poses a safety issue in the MRI portion (e.g., pacemakers, neural implants, metal plates or joints, shrapnel, and surgical staples)
* Claustrophobia or any condition that would be exacerbated by the scanning environment's lighting, sounds, etc. (e.g., migraines)
* A non-removable hairstyle or hair accessory that would prevent the participant from fitting comfortably in the MEG or MRI head coil
* Currently under a medical provider's care for a closed head injury
* Currently taking psychoactive stimulant (e.g., amphetamines), depressant (e.g., benzodiazepines), mood stabilizing (e.g., lithium), anti-psychotic, or anti-seizure medications or drugs of abuse
* Currently pregnant (only for MRI)

Where this trial is running

College Park, Maryland and 1 other locations

• Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences — College Park, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)
• Maryland Neuroimaging Center — College Park, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Samira B Anderson, PhD — University of Maryland, College Park
• Study coordinator: Jonathan Z Simon, PhD

Conditions Speech Intelligibility; Aging; Auditory-cognitive training; Speech-in-noise perception