Effects of Clear Speech on Listening Effort and Memory in Sentence Processing

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · Sep 20, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how clear speech affects listening effort and memory in older adults with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), a common condition that makes it harder to understand speech. When people with SNHL listen, they often have to work much harder to comprehend what they hear, which can affect their ability to remember information. The researchers aim to explore how using clearer speech can help reduce this effort and improve understanding and memory, especially in older adults. They will use innovative techniques to measure physical responses and brain activity while participants listen to speech, helping to identify how clarity in communication can benefit those with hearing challenges.

To participate in this study, individuals must be aged between 60 and 90, right-handed, and native English speakers with normal cognitive function scores. They should also have some degree of hearing loss but not too severe. Participants can expect to engage in listening tasks while their brain responses and pupil reactions are monitored. This research is important because it seeks to understand the hidden effects of hearing loss on cognitive processes, which could lead to better support and strategies for improving communication for older adults facing these challenges.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility 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;