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Published on: October 29, 2018
Evidence for adaptive plasticity in elderly monaural hearing aid users.
Kevin J Munro1, Adam J Walker, Suzanne C Purdy
1School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. Kevin.munro@manchester.ac.uk
Neuroreport
|July 17, 2007
Summary
Long-term hearing aid use in elderly individuals shows physiological changes. The study found differences in loudness discomfort and acoustic reflex thresholds, indicating adaptive plasticity in the auditory brainstem.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Audiology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Hearing aids are commonly used by elderly individuals.
- Perceptual changes are known, but physiological changes are less studied.
- Understanding long-term effects is crucial for audiological management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate physiological changes in elderly hearing aid users.
- To measure loudness discomfort levels (LDL) and acoustic reflex thresholds (ART).
- To explore adaptive plasticity in the auditory system.
Main Methods:
- Recruited long-term users of a single hearing aid.
- Measured LDL and ART in both ears.
- Analyzed differences between ears and related them to hearing aid use.
Main Results:
- Observed an asymmetry of +2 to +9 dB in LDL and ART between ears.
- Found elevated ART in the ear with hearing aid experience.
- This effect was independent of the ear being stimulated.
Conclusions:
- Hearing aid use induces measurable physiological changes.
- Evidence of adaptive plasticity exists at the auditory brainstem level.
- These findings have implications for hearing aid fitting and auditory rehabilitation.
