Hidden Hearing Loss in Older Adults (NCT07646119) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Hidden Hearing Loss in Older Adults
China200 participantsStarted 2026-06-15
Plain-language summary
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.
Who can participate
Age range
60 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Aged 60 years or older;
. Bilateral pure-tone average hearing thresholds across 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz ≤ 25 dB HL;
. Self-reported hearing difficulties identified during previous hearing screening;
. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese;
. No history of otologic disease, ear trauma, ototoxic medication history, or long-term noise exposure;
. No known neurological or psychiatric disorders, or other major medical conditions that may affect nervous system function.
Exclusion criteria
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Conventional pure-tone audiometry (PTA) with extended high-frequency (0.25-16 kHz)
Timeframe: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.
2
Gap Detection Test (GDT)
Timeframe: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.
3
Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAEs)
Timeframe: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.
4
Electrocochleography
Timeframe: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.
5
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)
Timeframe: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.
6
Frequency-Following Response (FFR)
Timeframe: Participants will complete all study assessments within one month of enrollment.
7
Central neural activity during Memory task measured by fMRI
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07646119
SponsorShanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University