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

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.