NCT04997577 Speech Perception and High Cognitive Demand
| NCT ID | NCT04997577 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | University of Maryland, College Park |
| Condition | Speech Intelligibility |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 100 participants |
| Start Date | 2021-09-27 |
| Primary Completion | 2026-05-30 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 100 participants in total. It began in 2021-09-27 with a primary completion date of 2026-05-30.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
With advancing age, adults experience increasing speech understanding difficulties in challenging situations. Currently, speech-in-noise difficulties are rehabilitated by providing hearing aids. For older normal-hearing adults, however, hearing devices do not provide much benefit since these adults do not have decreased hearing sensitivity. The goal of the "Speech Perception and High Cognitive Demand" project is to evaluate the benefit of a new auditory-cognitive training paradigm. In the present study neural (as measured by pupillometry and magnetoencephalography) and behavioral changes of speech-in-noise perception from pretest to posttest will be examined in older adults (age 65 - 85 years) assigned to one of three training groups: 1) Active Control Group: sessions of watching informational videos, 2) Auditory Training Group: sessions of auditory training listening to one of two speakers in everyday scenarios (e.g., driving directions) and needing to recall what one speaker said in the previous sentence, and 3) Auditory-cognitive training group: identical to the auditory training group, except participants will be asked to remember information from two previous sentences. Changes in speech-in-noise perception will be examined for the three groups of older adults and gains will be compared to a control group of young, normal hearing adults (18-30 years) that is not part of the clinical trial and will not undergo any training.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged between 65 - 85 years * Normal hearing (pure tone thresholds ≤ 25 dB HL from 250 - 8000 Hz) * Self-reported normal or corrected-to-normal vision * Dominant language: American English * Education: a high school diploma or higher education level Exclusion Criteria: * Middle-ear or inner-ear pathology * Non-native speaker of English * Inability to complete all training sessions within a pre-specified time window (e.g., due to unexpected schedule restrictions) * Learning disorders * Metal in body that induces a data artifact for MEG recording (e.g., excessive metal dental work) or that poses a safety issue in the MRI portion (e.g., pacemakers, neural implants, metal plates or joints, shrapnel, and surgical staples) * Claustrophobia or any condition that would be exacerbated by the scanning environment's lighting, sounds, etc. (e.g., migraines) * A non-removable hairstyle or hair accessory that would prevent the participant from fitting comfortably in the MEG or MRI head coil * Currently under a medical provider's care for a closed head injury * Currently taking psychoactive stimulant (e.g., amphetamines), depressant (e.g., benzodiazepines), mood stabilizing (e.g., lithium), anti-psychotic, or anti-seizure medications or drugs of abuse * Currently pregnant (only for MRI)
Contact & Investigator
Samira B Anderson, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
University of Maryland, College Park
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT04997577 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 65 Years or older, up to 85 Years, studying Speech Intelligibility. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT04997577 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT04997577 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at jzsimon@umd.edu for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT04997577 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at College Park, United States, College Park, United States.
Who is sponsoring the NCT04997577 clinical trial?
NCT04997577 is sponsored by University of Maryland, College Park. The principal investigator is Samira B Anderson, PhD at University of Maryland, College Park. The trial plans to enroll 100 participants.