Using brain stimulation to improve hearing and attention control

Exploiting the Potential of Neural Attentional Control to Overcome Hearing Impairment

This study is testing if brain stimulation techniques can help people with hearing loss, tinnitus, or normal hearing improve their ability to focus on sounds in noisy places.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 275 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 75 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Zurich (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Zürich)
• Trial ID: NCT05513352 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to enhance understanding of how the brain controls auditory attention and to evaluate the effectiveness of neuromodulation techniques, specifically transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and neurofeedback (NF), in improving hearing capabilities. Participants will undergo electroencephalography (EEG) to identify neural markers of auditory attention, which will then be tested for their role in attention control among individuals with hearing loss, tinnitus, and normal hearing. The study addresses the challenges faced by hearing-impaired individuals in noisy environments by exploring potential interventions that could enhance their auditory experiences.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include right-handed individuals aged 18-35 or 55-75 who are German speakers with normal hearing, hearing impairment, or chronic tinnitus.

Not a fit: Patients with non-symmetrical hearing loss or those with a history of brain injury or neurological disorders may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to new non-invasive treatments that significantly improve hearing and attention in individuals with hearing impairment.

How similar studies have performed: While the approach of using neuromodulation for auditory attention is gaining interest, this specific application remains novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age: 18-35 / 55-75
* German as first language
* Normal or corrected to normal vision
* Right-handed
* Normal hearing, hearing impairment or tinnitus (see specified inclusion)
* Normal hearing: ≤20 decibel (dB) hearing level (HL) at frequencies from 250 Hz to 8,000 Hz for both ears.

Specified inclusion for Experiment 1, 2, 3 \& 4:

* Hearing loss:
* bilateral symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss
* pure tone thresholds of ≥25 dB HL at one or more frequencies between 250 Hz and 8,000 Hz and differences in thresholds across the two ears of ≤20 dB at every frequency.
* Tinnitus:
* Persistent chronic tinnitus with duration of more than 3 months
* Tinnitus with a Tinnitus Handicap Inventory Grade 2 to 4 (18-76 points)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Non-symmetrical hearing loss
* Raised bi- or multilingually (second language acquired earlier than 6 years of age)
* Women who are currently pregnant or breastfeeding
* History of brain injury or any neurological disorder (y/n)

  • For example, stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain surgery, epilepsy etc.
* Dyslexia
* History of psychiatric disorder
* Recent recreational drug consumption
* Known or suspected drug or alcohol abuse
* Medication with cognitive side effects (e.g., psychoactive medications or sleeping pills)
* Metallic implants in the head region (excluding fixed braces and tooth fillings)
* Any implanted medical device (e.g., cardiac pacemakers)
* Previous enrolment in one of the experiments comprising the main investigational plan

Where this trial is running

Zürich

• University of Zurich — Zürich, Switzerland (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Basil Preisig, Dr. — University of Zurich
• Study coordinator: Basil Preisig, Dr.

Conditions: Hearing Loss, Attention Impaired, Tinnitus, neuromodulation, auditory attention, neurobiology of language, electroencephalography, transcranial alternating current stimulation