Hyperacusis

Researchers are investigating the use of Clemastine Fumarate combined with engineered sound to treat age-related central auditory processing disorder (CAPD), a condition affecting many people over 40 and causing difficulty hearing in noisy environments. This trial aims to test if the therapy, called Localized Oligodendrocyte Optimization Therapy (LOOT), which showed promise in animal studies, can improve hearing in noise for humans. The study is designed to compare the effectiveness of the drug with or without engineered sound in a controlled, randomized setting. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: Clemastine Fumarate with engineered sound, Clemastine Fumarate with placebo sound (white or pink noise), placebo drug with engineered sound, or placebo drug with placebo sound. The drug dosage is carefully controlled and given orally over 30 days, while participants listen to the assigned sound stimulation through headphones for one hour daily. The trial includes an adaptive design allowing adjustment of study arms based on interim results. Throughout the study, participants will undergo hearing tests to measure their ability to hear in noisy environments, both before and after treatment. Additional assessments include questionnaires on speech and tinnitus, auditory brainstem response tests, physical exams, blood tests, and EKGs to monitor health and safety. The treatment period lasts one month, with evaluations scheduled around weeks five or six. Safety and hearing improvements are carefully monitored to assess the therapy's impact.

Researchers are conducting the Apple Health Study to create a diverse group of participants and improve understanding of how data collected from apps and devices can relate to health. The study focuses on various aspects including mental health, sleep, exercise, hormones, metabolic health, hearing, aging, lifestyle factors, neurological conditions, general health, wellbeing, and women's health. This is an observational study aiming to use this information to help predict, detect, monitor, and manage health changes. Participants in this fully remote study will use their iPhone and the Apple Research app to share data and complete tasks. They can select the types of health and sensor data they want to share, and will answer surveys covering personal demographics, medical history, family history, and social factors. There is no treatment or drug involved, as this study observes health information collected digitally. During the study, participants will provide baseline health status information and follow-up data every six months for up to five years. They will also share demographic details, lifestyle and environment information, and family health history. The study monitors these factors over time to better understand health trends. Participation involves regular surveys and data sharing via the app, with all activities completed remotely from home.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of a 30-minute binaural beats audio session on pain and anxiety in adults undergoing outpatient total knee or hip replacement surgery. The trial compares this intervention with listening to participant-selected music during the early recovery period after surgery. The study is designed as a randomized controlled trial led by the University of Miami to understand whether binaural beats can influence postoperative outcomes. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group listens to a 30-minute binaural beats audio session through standardized over-ear headphones shortly after arriving in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). The audio targets a 10 Hz alpha frequency using specific sound tones and is played at a comfortable volume. The other group receives usual postoperative care and may listen to their preferred music through the same type of headphones for 30 minutes. Music listening is optional and can be stopped anytime. During the study, participants’ pain and anxiety levels are measured before surgery and again four hours after surgery using validated scales. Researchers also monitor opioid use, vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate every 30 minutes while in the PACU. Patient satisfaction is assessed once during the PACU stay. The study aims to capture these outcomes within the first four hours after surgery to evaluate early postoperative recovery effects. Total participation time is limited to the immediate postoperative period in the PACU.

Researchers are investigating how caffeine consumption affects the ability to understand speech in noisy environments among young adults aged 18 to 30. This study focuses on the relationship between caffeine and speech-in-noise comprehension, a skill influenced by both auditory and cognitive functions such as selective attention and executive functions. The goal is to add to existing knowledge since previous studies have not explored caffeine's effect on this specific ability. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will consume about 280 grams of coffee containing 300 mg of caffeine, while the other group will drink decaffeinated coffee as a placebo. Thirty minutes after consumption, the Turkish Matrix Test will be used to assess speech understanding in noise. Additionally, participants will keep a caffeine diary for one week to track daily intake and complete the Caffeine Use Disorder Scale to classify them as low or high caffeine consumers. During the study, participants will undergo hearing assessments to ensure no hearing loss, and they will be monitored for neurological and psychological history, smoking status, and ototoxic drug use. The primary outcome measured is performance on the Turkish Matrix Test before and after coffee consumption, while the secondary outcome involves scores on the Caffeine Use Disorder Scale. This study is expected to last from April 2025 through April 2026, with all procedures conducted under randomized conditions.

This research aims to understand the changes in listening effort experienced by people with hearing loss, especially those using cochlear implants. The study focuses on how effort varies moment-to-moment during listening, how long it lasts, and how experience with a cochlear implant affects the planning and execution of listening effort. Listening effort is linked to fatigue, mental strain, and social challenges faced by individuals with hearing difficulties. Participants will take part in speech recognition tests in a sound-attenuated booth, listening to and repeating sentences while their pupil size is monitored by an eye tracker to assess changes related to listening effort. The study includes both cochlear implant users and typical-hearing controls. Various experiments will test different listening scenarios, such as preparing for difficult speech, clarifying misheard words, judging answers, and adjusting speech rates. Behavioral tasks and questionnaires will also measure subjective effort and cognitive processing. Participants will be evaluated through speech intelligibility tests, pupil size tracking, and cognitive tasks assessing attention and processing speed. The study measures listening effort and speech understanding during 60 to 90 minute sessions. Researchers will analyze how participants respond to different speech manipulations and monitor changes in effort using eye tracking and subjective reports. The total participation time varies depending on the number of experiments completed, with detailed observation of effort and comprehension.

Researchers are investigating how people with normal hearing, hearing loss, or cochlear implants recognize speech sounds within the context of surrounding sounds. The study aims to understand how the frequency and timing of nearby sounds affect speech perception, especially under noisy conditions, and how these processes differ in listeners with hearing impairments. The research includes using computer models to simulate neural responses to speech sounds in context. Participants listen to speech played at comfortable volumes inside a sound booth and respond by identifying what they hear, either by speaking or choosing from options on a computer. The speech sounds are systematically modified in various ways, such as changing frequencies, speaking rates, or simulating hearing loss effects. These manipulations help researchers study how surrounding sounds influence speech recognition. Participants complete several testing blocks with breaks offered, and assignment to testing conditions is randomized. Throughout the study, participants provide responses at their own pace with minimal intervention. Researchers measure speech categorization and word recognition during testing, along with initial hearing assessments. The main outcome is how well participants identify speech sounds after these systematic manipulations. After completing all testing, participants are informed about the study's full purpose and findings. The study typically lasts about one year from enrollment to final data reporting.

This research aims to find out how common misophonia and hyperacusis are among teachers and how these sound sensitivities might relate to stress at work. Misophonia involves a strong dislike or intolerance of everyday sounds like chewing or tapping, while hyperacusis causes discomfort from ordinary noises. Since teachers are exposed to many sounds daily, the study explores how these conditions affect their well-being and job performance. The study will include actively working teachers aged 22 to 45 who do not have hearing loss, chronic illnesses, or psychological disorders. Participants will complete questionnaires about their health, work, and auditory sensitivities using the Khalfa Hyperacusis Scale and the AMISOS-R misophonia assessment. These tools help measure the presence and severity of these auditory conditions. During the study, participants will fill out forms and complete the assessments once to determine how common and severe misophonia and hyperacusis are in this group. The research team will analyze these results to better understand sensory issues in teaching environments and support the development of ways to improve teachers' occupational health. The study is observational and involves no treatments or interventions.

Researchers are studying how hearing-impaired people with hearing aids perceive the timbre of individual sounds and how this affects their ability to understand complex sound scenes. The study aims to measure how certain sound qualities interfere with understanding, helping to identify which timbres are most distracting for those with hearing loss. This research involves comparing hearing-impaired participants with those who have normal hearing to better understand sound perception differences. Participants will take part in several behavioral experiments. These include evaluating the loudness of complex sounds, comparing pairs of sounds to judge differences, and identifying how changes in sound timbre affect understanding of complex scenes. For hearing aid users, the study will adjust hearing aid settings to see how these changes influence the salience of sounds. The study includes groups with normal hearing and hearing-impaired individuals wearing hearing aids. During the study, participants will complete tasks involving melody comparison and sound identification, taking about three hours per session. Researchers will assess hearing abilities, loudness perception, and speech understanding in noisy environments. The study involves monitoring responses over up to 24 months to evaluate how hearing aid adjustments affect speech recognition. Overall, participants can expect detailed sound perception tests and assessments designed to explore how their hearing aids influence processing of complex sound environments.

Researchers are studying the effects of exposure to manipulated sounds, such as compressed, filtered, or equalized audio, on the hearing of people who regularly encounter these sounds in their professional or educational settings. The study focuses on two groups: those with high exposure through professional broadcasting activities over the past three years, and those with moderate to limited exposure, such as students attending distance learning courses with videoconferencing for up to two years. The goal is to understand how these sound manipulations impact auditory perception. The study involves monitoring participants' hearing through various audiological assessments, including video otoscopy, tympanometry, high-frequency audiometry, and both objective and subjective hearing tests. Participants also provide self-assessments of their hearing skills, tinnitus, hyperacusis, and the quality of sounds they hear during exposure. These tests are conducted before and after exposure to manipulated sounds, with follow-up visits to evaluate changes over a two-week period. Participants will undergo detailed hearing evaluations, including pure tone audiometry across a range of frequencies, measurements of protective auditory reflexes, and tinnitus assessments. They also complete questionnaires on their hearing experience and sound quality perceptions. The study tracks auditory thresholds and reflex effectiveness to assess any changes related to sound exposure. This observational study lasts about two weeks and includes multiple hearing tests and self-assessments to monitor participants' auditory health.