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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
07:52
An Automated System for Sound Localization Testing in Hearing-Impaired Listeners
Published on: March 13, 2026
Individual differences in hearing decline predict region-specific brain and cognitive changes in healthy aging men
Kamine Julie Jacobsen1, Mostafa Mehdipour Ghazi2, Reena Murmu Nielsen3
1Department of Neurology, Section of Clinical Neurophysiology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark.
Frontiers in Aging
|August 13, 2026
Summary
Hearing decline, measured by pure-tone audiometry and speech-in-noise tests, significantly predicts cognitive aging trajectories and brain structure. This highlights the intricate relationship between hearing, cognition, and brain health in aging individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Audiology
Background:
- Cognitive decline in aging is variable and accelerates after 60.
- Hearing decline is a modifiable risk factor influencing cognitive aging and brain structure.
- Hearing loss impacts communication, social participation, and quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if longitudinal changes in hearing predict cognitive performance and brain structure.
- To explore the relationship between specific hearing measures and cognitive trajectories.
- To examine brain volume changes associated with hearing and cognitive function.
Main Methods:
- Assessed 51 healthy males from a longitudinal birth cohort with cognitive testing and MRI.
- Utilized four-frequency pure-tone audiometry (4PTA), audible contrast threshold (ACT), and speech-in-noise tests (HINT) at ages 70-71.
- Employed machine learning to define four cognitive trajectories based on prior assessments and analyzed hearing measures' predictive power.
Main Results:
- The combination of 4PTA and HINT was most effective in classifying cognitive trajectory groups (p = 0.022).
- XGBoost with SHAP values identified temporal lobe volume as a key MRI feature influencing ACT.
- Cerebellum and fourth ventricle volumes were key MRI features influencing HINT.
Conclusions:
- Findings reveal complex interactions between hearing, cognition, and brain structure.
- Integrating diverse auditory measures is crucial for cognitive aging research.
- Hearing health is a significant factor in maintaining cognitive function and brain integrity during aging.
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