Investigating how clear speech affects listening effort and memory in older adults with hearing loss
Understanding the Effects of Listening Effort on Sentence Processing and Memory in Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Evidence From Simultaneous Electrophysiology and Pupillometry (Study 2)
NA · University of Utah · NCT06053190
This study is testing how clear speech affects how hard older adults with hearing loss have to work to listen and remember what they hear.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Ages | 60 Years to 90 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Utah (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Salt Lake City, Utah) |
| Trial ID | NCT06053190 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study examines the impact of clear speech on listening effort and memory in older adults aged 60 to 90 with varying degrees of hearing loss. Participants will be recruited from the Salt Lake metro community and will undergo a series of speech comprehension tasks designed to assess their cognitive load while processing spoken sentences. The study employs a within-subjects experimental design, allowing each participant to experience all conditions, which enhances the reliability of the findings. The goal is to better understand how listening effort influences memory and comprehension in individuals with sensorineural hearing loss.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are older adults aged 60 to 90 who are right-handed, native English speakers, and have normal cognitive function as indicated by a Montreal Cognitive Assessment score of 25 or higher.
Not a fit: Patients who are left-handed, have a history of psychiatric or neurological illnesses, or score below 25 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved communication strategies for older adults with hearing loss, enhancing their quality of life and cognitive health.
How similar studies have performed: While there is growing interest in the cognitive effects of listening effort in hearing loss, this specific approach is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 60-90 * Right-handed * Native English speaker * Scores in the normal range (\> or = 25 points) on Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) * For adults with hearing loss, a pure-tone average score of \> 25 dB HL (between 1 - 4kHz) Exclusion Criteria: * Left-handed (language-related electrophysiological responses of left-handed subjects differ from those of right-handed subjects) * History of psychiatric or neurological illnesses (including skull fractures, as this is known to alter electrophysiological response at the scalp) * Score of \< 25 points on the MOCA * Use of certain prescription and non-prescription drugs known to alter brain function and the autonomic nervous system, including pupil dilation (e.g., anti-depressants, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drugs) * Any eye disease that would impair the ability to measure pupil dilation (e.g., cataracts, nystagmus, amblyopia) * Scores on speech shadowing audibility control task below 50%, suggesting poor intelligibility * A display of behavior that would significantly interfere with the validity of data collection or safety during the study;
Where this trial is running
Salt Lake City, Utah
- University of Utah — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Brennan R Payne
- Email: brennan.payne@psych.utah.edu
- Phone: 801-581-5040
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Speech, Memory, Delayed, Sensorineural Hearing Loss