An observational study in Hidden Hearing Loss, sponsored by Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 60 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-12.
Sponsored by Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University · Observational
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.
66 studies on the registry are indexed under Presbycusis; 21 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 200 is above the median of 123 across 20 observational studies indexed under Presbycusis.
Browse Presbycusis studies →Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University is the lead sponsor of 164 studies on the registry; 73 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older residing in Shanghai, who has objectively normal hearing thresholds on pure-tone audiometry but self-report difficulties understanding speech in noisy or complex listening environments.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Short tests of memory and thinking, each scored out of 30. Lower scores suggest more difficulty; criteria give a range, either to include people with memory problems or to leave them out.
MMSE and MoCA
Short tests of memory and thinking, each scored out of 30. Lower scores suggest more difficulty; criteria give a range, either to include people with memory problems or to leave them out.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
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.
Conventional pure-tone audiometry (PTA) with extended high-frequency (0.25-16 kHz)
This measure reflects the overall audibility of the individual. Together with the other measures listed under the primary outcome measure, it provides a comprehensive assessment of participants' peripheral auditory function.
Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.
Gap Detection Test (GDT)
This behavioral test assesses an individual's ability to detect brief silent gaps in an auditory signal, reflecting temporal resolution within the auditory system
Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.
Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAEs)
This objective measure evaluates cochlear outer hair cell. Together with the other measures listed under the primary outcome measure, it provides a comprehensive assessment of participants' peripheral auditory function.
Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.
Electrocochleography
This objective measure assesses cochlear and auditory nerve function. Together with the other measures listed under the primary outcome measure, it provides a comprehensive assessment of participants' peripheral auditory function.
Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)
This objective measure assesses auditory nerve and brainstem function. Together with the other measures listed under the primary outcome measure, it provides a comprehensive assessment of participants' peripheral auditory function.
Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.
Frequency-Following Response (FFR)
This objective measure assesses the neural encoding of sound by recording phase-locked neural responses to auditory stimuli. It reflects the ability of the auditory system to encode and resolve temporal information.
Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.
Central neural activity during Memory task measured by fMRI
Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment
Central neural activity during listening task measured by fMRI
Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.
Depressive symptoms assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment
Anxiety symptoms assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.
Cognitive function assessed using Digit Span test.
Time frame: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.
Plan to share: Yes — IPD used in the results publication will be shared.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan, Informed consent form
Time frame: IPD and supporting information will be available for 5 years following publication.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Start is estimated for Jun 2026; primary completion for May 2027, 10 months later.
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Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University →