fNIRS, Listening Effort, and Motivation

Impacts of Hearing Aid Use on Listening Effort and Motivation Using fNIRS

The purpose of the current study is to measure oxygenation in the PFC using fNIRS in a sample of older adults with hearing loss. Participants will be instructed to listen to sentences in noise at a challenging signal-to-noise-ratio, and to repeat the word that they heard and rate how much subjective listening effort was required in order to make out the words. fNIRS will be measured throughout. Participants will complete the task using a hearing aid program intended for listening in quiet, and a hearing aid program with new advanced noise management features.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults (18-99) years
• Binaural, symmetrical, sensorineural N2 (mild) to N5 (moderate-severe) hearing loss
• Fluent in English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Minors (17 years or less)
• Not able to tolerate wearing of hearing aids
• Vulnerable populations