Appeal for hearing aid participants for research at Lancaster University

Are you aged 60-85 and have recently got a hearing aid?

If so, Lancaster University is inviting you to take part in research looking at whether non-invasive brain stimulation can make adapting to hearing aids faster and more effective for older adults. This could represent an improved rehabilitation option for age-related hearing loss.

By the age of 70, 80% of people experience some degree of hearing loss, which can lead to feelings of social isolation and reduced quality of life. People with hearing loss can receive hearing aids. However, adjusting to hearing aids can take some time; this period of adjustment is frustrating, and is one reason why people with hearing aids decide not to use them.

Increasing the benefit of the hearing aid may help users overcome other barriers, such as stigma and comfort, that reduce hearing aid use.

After receiving hearing aids, the brain must relearn how to process sound, which is challenging after living with reduced hearing; boosting brain resources using brain stimulation could help the brain adapt and improve hearing aid adaptation.

Brain stimulation could increase hearing aid benefits over a shorter timescale, improving social communication in older adults.

You will visit the lab at Lancaster University for a short session once a day, Monday-Friday, for 5 days in a row. There will also be three follow-up sessions. For each hour that you participate in the study, you would be paid £10 per hour in shopping vouchers for your time and travel costs will be reimbursed.

Call Jessica Pepper at Lancaster University on 01524 522345 if you are interested.