Monaural hearing aid fitting and neuroplasticity

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Monaural hearing aid fitting and neuroplasticity

• IRAS ID

  134049

• Sponsor organisation

  De Montfort University

• Research summary

  An individual who develops an age-related hearing loss loses the ability to detect and distinguish between certain sounds. This is due to the cumulative damage that has occurred to a portion of the hearing organ, the cochlea and the central auditory pathway during the ageing process. Whilst this physiological damage is irreversible there is research to suggest the auditory system and the sensory areas in the auditory cortex are capable of showing certain degree of plasticity, that is, the ability to change, in response to this damage to the auditory system. Plasticity is defined as the changes in the physiological and anatomical properties of the auditory system that occurs in association with stimulation and deprivation.

  If evidence of plasticity can be demonstrated via changes in the acoustic reflex results after 6 weeks of continuous hearing aid usage then it may help to provide a rationale for the development of specific hearing aid prescription protocols for existing and new hearing aid users.
  The project will investigate:
  • The physiological and perceptual effects of auditory deprivation on uncomfortable loudness levels and the acoustic reflex thresholds, thus providing information about the function of the middle and inner ear and central auditory pathway
  • The perceptual consequences of re-stimulating the deprived ear with auditory stimuli through the amplification mechanisms of a monaural hearing aid fitting.
  • The correlation between the amount of hearing aid usage and uncomfortable loudness levels.

• REC name

  London - Brent Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  13/LO/1637

• Date of REC Opinion

  28 Oct 2013

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion