Improving Speech in Noise Perception for Individuals With Age-related Hearing Loss

University of Florida

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Presbycusis

Treatments: Device: transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation; Device: Sham Control

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07192757

IRB202500769

Details and patient eligibility

About

Hearing loss, especially for speech perception in the presence of noise, may lead older individuals to withdraw from social situations. While hearing aids help amplify sound and are useful in many situations, they can be ineffective in noisy contexts. The proposed pilot study will evaluate taVNS for improving speech in noise perception in adults with age-related hearing loss.

Enrollment: 36 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 55 to 80 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adults 55-80 years old
• Normal hearing or age-related hearing loss (with or without hearing aids)

Exclusion criteria

• History of traumatic brain injury or noise trauma
• Implanted medical devices (eg., pacemaker) or ferrous metal
• Known history of heart conditions
• Medications that impact neurotransmitters released by vagus nerve stimulation

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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36 participants in 2 patient groups

Treatment A

Experimental group

Description:

participants will receive low level electrical stimulation to the auricular branch of the vagus nerve during the sound in noise task

Treatment:

Device: transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation

Treatment B

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will receive stimulation to a control location

Treatment:

Device: Sham Control