Hidden Hearing Loss in Older Adults

Hidden Hearing Loss in Older Adults: Mechanisms of Speech-in-noise Perception Deficits and Associated Central Compensation

The goal of this observational study is to investigate whether speech-in-noise perception deficits in older adults aged 60 years or older with objectively normal hearing thresholds are due to impaired ability of processing temporal cues in speech signals. The study further aims to examine whether cognitive and cortical mechanisms provide compensatory support for speech perception in challenging listening environments.

This observational study aims to investigate the peripheral auditory mechanisms underlying speech-in-noise perception deficits in older adults with hidden hearing loss, as well as the potential central compensatory mechanisms involved. The study will recruit community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older who has objectively normal hearing thresholds on pure-tone audiometry but self-report difficulties understanding speech in noisy or complex listening environments.

The investigators hypothesize that speech-in-noise perception deficits in these individuals are associated with impaired ability of processing temporal cues in speech signals under challenging listening conditions. The investigators further hypothesize that cortical mechanisms involved in speech-in-noise processing may be recruited to facilitate speech understanding, although the extent of such compensation in the aging brain may vary across individuals.

The study will collect demographic, lifestyle, and health-related information. Participants will undergo comprehensive audiological assessments, neurophysiological testing, behavioral evaluations, and neuroimaging examinations. These measures will be used to characterize the ability of the peripheral auditory system to process temporal acoustic information and to investigate potential central compensatory mechanisms associated with speech perception in complex listening environments.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged 60 years or older;
2. Bilateral pure-tone average hearing thresholds across 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz ≤ 25 dB HL;
3. Self-reported hearing difficulties identified during previous hearing screening;
4. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese;
5. No history of otologic disease, ear trauma, ototoxic medication history, or long-term noise exposure;
6. No known neurological or psychiatric disorders, or other major medical conditions that may affect nervous system function.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Unable to comply with or complete the study assessments;
2. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score < 24 during previous health screening;
3. Refuse to participate in the study