Rhythmic versus non-rhythmic music priming to help sentence processing in older adults with age-related hearing loss

STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF RHYTHMIC AND NON-RHYTHMIC MUSICAL PRIMING ON THE SYNTAX CAPACITY OF PRESBYACOUSTIC OLDER ADULTS

This study will test whether listening to rhythmic or non-rhythmic music before language tasks can improve sentence processing in people aged 70 and older with age-related hearing loss.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 27 (estimated)
• Ages: 70 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Dijon)
• Trial ID: NCT06282601 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Participants aged 70 and older with bilateral, symmetrical presbyacusis and an MMSE score of 24 or higher are screened with an audiogram and cognitive testing. Eligible volunteers, with or without bilateral hearing aids that meet specified fitted-threshold and speech-discrimination criteria, receive musical priming sessions using rhythmic (regular) and non-rhythmic excerpts prior to performing standardized syntax tests, and complete the Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire. The study compares syntax test performance after the different priming conditions to determine whether rhythmic musical priming boosts syntactic processing. The primary focus is on immediate effects of musical priming on language processing rather than long-term auditory rehabilitation.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 70 or older with bilateral, symmetrical presbyacusis, an MMSE ≥ 24, and (if using hearing aids) fitted thresholds and speech-discrimination within the study's specified limits are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with severe or asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss, poor speech discrimination at 60 dB, neurocognitive or neuropsychiatric disorders, or who cannot give consent are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, a simple musical priming procedure could temporarily improve sentence comprehension and everyday communication for older adults with age-related hearing loss.

How similar studies have performed: Previous work in normal-hearing adults and children has shown benefits of rhythmic musical priming on syntax, but this approach has not been tested in older adults with presbyacusis.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* No objection to participation in the study
* Men and women aged ≥ 70 years
* Patients diagnosed with presbyacusis (age-related bilateral and symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss, all stages combined), with or without the use of a bilateral hearing aid.
* If they use a hearing aid: hearing must have an average free-field fitted tonal threshold of 40 dB max and free-field fitted speech discrimination without lip-reading of 90-100% at 60dB in silence.
* MMSE score ≥ 24/30

Exclusion Criteria:

* Person under legal protection (curatorship, guardianship)
* Person under court order
* Adult unable to provide consent
* Person with a neurocognitive disorder (post-stroke, dyslexia, dyspraxia) or neuro-psychiatric disorder (dementia, autism)
* Severe sensorineural hearing loss with mean free-field threshold \> 40 dB and free-field speech discrimination without lip-reading of \< 90-100% at 60dB in silence
* Asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss due to an additional cause of hearing loss on one side.

Secondary exclusion criteria:

Person with syntax disorder (discovery of sentence comprehension or production disorders during syntax test)

Where this trial is running

Dijon

• Chu Dijon Bourgogne — Dijon, France (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Alexis BOZORG-GRAYELI

Conditions Presbyacousie