Age-related Hearing Loss Research Articles

Demographic factors impact the rate of hearing decline across the adult lifespan

BackgroundLittle is known about the natural history of hearing loss in adults, despite it being an important public health problem. The purpose of this study is to describe the rate of hearing change per year over the adult lifespan.MethodsThe 1436 participants are from the MUSC Longitudinal Cohort Study of Age-related Hearing Loss (1988-present). Outcomes are audiometric thresholds at 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz, averaged across right and left ears, and pure-tone average (PTA). Demographic factors are sex (female/male), race, which is categorized as white or racial Minority, and baseline age group (18-39, 40–59, 60–69, 70+ years). Linear mixed regression models are used to estimate the effect of age (per year) on the rate of threshold and PTA change.ResultsParticipants’ mean age is 63.1 (SD 14.9) years, 57.7% are female, and 17.8% are racial Minority (17.1% were Black or African American). In sex-race-adjusted models, rates of threshold change are 0.42 to 1.44 dB across thresholds. Rates of change differ by sex at most individual thresholds, but not PTA. Females (versus males) showed higher rates of threshold change in higher frequencies but less decline per year in lower frequencies. Black/African American (versus white) participants have lower rates of threshold and PTA change per year. Hearing thresholds decline across the adult lifespan, with older (versus younger) baseline age groups showing higher rates of decline per year.ConclusionsDeclines to hearing occur across the adult lifespan, and the rate of decline varies by sex, race, and baseline age.

Premature senescence is regulated by crosstalk among TFEB, the autophagy lysosomal pathway and ROS derived from damaged mitochondria in NaAsO2-exposed auditory cells

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is one of the most prevalent types of sensory decline in a superaging society. Although various studies have focused on the effect of oxidative stress on the inner ear as an inducer of ARHL, there are no effective preventive approaches for ARHL. Recent studies have suggested that oxidative stress-induced DNA damage responses (oxidative DDRs) drive cochlear cell senescence and contribute to accelerated ARHL, and autophagy could function as a defense mechanism against cellular senescence in auditory cells. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) is a unique oxidative stress inducer associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) that causes high-tone hearing loss similar to ARHL. Transcription factor EB (TFEB) functions as a master regulator of the autophagy‒lysosome pathway (ALP), which is a potential target during aging and the pathogenesis of various age-related diseases. Here, we focused on the function of TFEB and the impact of intracellular ROS as a potential target for ARHL treatment in a NaAsO2-induced auditory premature senescence model. Our results suggested that short exposure to NaAsO2 leads to DNA damage, lysosomal damage and mitochondrial damage in auditory cells, triggering temporary signals for TFEB transport into the nucleus and, as a result, causing insufficient autophagic flux and declines in lysosomal function and biogenesis and mitochondrial quality. Then, intracellular ROS derived from damaged mitochondria play a role as a second messenger to induce premature senescence in auditory cells. These findings suggest that TFEB activation via transport into the nucleus contributes to anti-senescence activity in auditory cells and represents a new therapeutic target for ARHL. We have revealed the potential function of TFEB as a master regulator of the induction of oxidative stress-induced premature senescence and the senescence-associated secretion phenotype (SASP) in auditory cells, which regulates ALP and controls mitochondrial quality through ROS production.

Auditory Phenotype of a Novel Missense Variant in the CEACAM16 Gene in a Large Russian Family With Autosomal Dominant Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss.

Autosomal dominant hearing loss is represented by a large number of genetically determined forms. Over 50 genes associated with dominant nonsyndromic hearing impairments were described. Pathogenic variants in the CEACAM16 gene lead to the development of DFNA4B hearing loss. Currently, 8 pathogenic variants in this gene have been described. The objective of this study was to study the audiological and molecular genetic characteristics of a large family with CEACAM16-associated autosomal dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss. A detailed anamnesis was collected, and a comprehensive audiological examination was performed for 21 family members. Genetic testing was performed, including whole-genome sequencing for the proband's son and Sanger sequence analysis for the proband and for all available family members. In a large Russian family, including 5 generations, an autosomal dominant type of slowly progressing nonsyndromic late-onset hearing loss was observed. Eleven family members suffer from hearing impairment, which starts with tinnitus and threshold increase at high frequencies, since the age of 5-20 years. Hearing loss slowly progresses with age in each person and is similar to age-related hearing loss. We have detected the novel likely pathogenic variant с.419С>T (p.(Thr140Ile)) in exon 3 of the CEACAM16 gene, which segregates with late-onset nonsyndromic hearing loss in this family. The clinical data obtained in the examined family correspond with the phenotype in previously described cases. In general, the study widened the mutation spectrum of the gene, allowing to carry out medical genetic counseling and to answer the questions about the hearing impairment prognosis for future generations.

Visual selective attention in individuals with age-related hearing loss

Evidence from epidemiological studies suggests that hearing loss is associated with an accelerated decline in cognitive function, but the underlying pathophysiological mechanism remains poorly understood. Studies using auditory tasks have suggested that degraded auditory input increases the cognitive load for auditory perceptual processing and thereby reduces the resources available for other cognitive tasks. Attention-related networks are among the systems overrecruited to support degraded auditory perception, but it is unclear how they function when no excessive recruitment of cognitive resources for auditory processing is needed. Here, we implemented an EEG study using a nonauditory visual attentional selection task in 30 individuals with age-related hearing loss (ARHLs, 60–73 years) and compared them with aged (N = 30, 60–70 years) and young (N = 35, 22–29 years) normal-hearing controls. Compared with their normal-hearing peers, ARHLs demonstrated a significant amplitude reduction for the posterior contralateral N2 component, which is a well-validated index of the allocation of selective visual attention, despite the comparable behavioral performance. Furthermore, the amplitudes were observed to correlate significantly with hearing acuities (pure tone audiometry thresholds) and higher-order hearing abilities (speech-in-noise thresholds) in aged individuals. The target-elicited alpha lateralization, another mechanism of visuospatial attention, demonstrated in control groups was not observed in ARHLs. Although behavioral performance is comparable, the significant decrease in N2pc amplitude in ARHLs provides neurophysiologic evidence that may suggest a visual attentional deficit in ARHLs even without extra-recruitment of cognitive resources by auditory processing. It supports the hypothesis that constant degraded auditory input in ARHLs has an adverse impact on the function of cognitive control systems, which is a possible mechanism mediating the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive decline.

Age-Related Hearing Loss, Cognitive Decline, and Social Interaction: Testing a Framework.

Aging increases risk for hearing loss, cognitive decline, and social isolation; however, the nature of their interconnection remains unclear. This study examined the interplay between age-related hearing loss, cognitive decline, and social isolation in adults by testing the ability to understand speech in background noise, a challenge frequently reported by many older adults. We analyzed data collected from 128 adults (20-79 years of age, Mage = 51 years) recruited as part of the Aging Brain Cohort at the University of South Carolina repository. The participants underwent testing for hearing, cognition, and social interaction, which included pure-tone audiometry, a words-in-noise (WIN) test, a hearing questionnaire (Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale [SSQ12]), a social questionnaire (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-57 Social), and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. We used a single pure-tone average (PTA) threshold value and a single WIN threshold value for each participant because there were no differences on average between the left and right ears. Poorer hearing was significantly associated with cognitive decline, through both PTA and WIN thresholds, with a stronger association observed for WIN threshold. Adults with poorer hearing also exhibited greater social isolation, as evidenced by their WIN threshold and SSQ12 score, although not through PTA. This connection was more pronounced with the WIN threshold than with the SSQ12 score. Cognition was not related to social isolation, suggesting that social isolation is affected more by the ability to understand words in noise than by cognition in a nondemented population. Understanding speech in challenging auditory environments rather than mere threshold detection is strongly linked to social isolation and cognitive decline. Thus, inclusion of a word-recognition-in-noise test and a social isolation survey in clinical settings is warranted. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.26237060.

Voxelwise analysis of the central hearing pathway in senior dogs reveals changes associated with fractional lifespan

Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, affects both elderly humans and dogs, significantly impairing their social interactions and cognition. In humans, presbycusis involves changes in peripheral and central auditory systems, with central changes potentially occurring independently. While peripheral presbycusis in dogs is well-documented, research on central changes remains limited. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a useful tool for detecting and quantifying cerebral white matter abnormalities. This study used DTI to explore the central auditory pathway of senior dogs, aiming to enhance our understanding of canine presbycusis. Dogs beyond 75% of their expected lifespan were recruited and screened with brainstem auditory evoked response testing to select dogs without severe peripheral hearing loss. Sixteen dogs meeting the criteria were scanned using a 3 T magnetic resonance scanner. Tract-based spatial statistics was used to analyze the central auditory pathways. A significant negative correlation between fractional lifespan and fractional anisotropy was found in the acoustic radiation, suggesting age-related white matter changes in the central auditory system. These changes, observed in dogs without severe peripheral hearing loss, may contribute to central presbycusis development.

Age-related myelin deficits in the auditory brain stem contribute to cocktail-party deficits.

Age-related hearing loss is a global health problem of increasing importance. While the role of peripheral hearing loss is well understood and treatments are available, central hearing loss, the ability of the brain to make sense of sound, is much less well understood and no treatments are available. We report on age-related alterations in the auditory brain stem which compromise a listener's ability to isolate a sound from competing background noises, for example in a crowded restaurant. Sound localization depends on extreme temporal precision on the order of microseconds, and the sound localization pathway shows several specializations towards temporal precision. The pathway from the cochlear nucleus to the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) is heavily myelinated and terminates in the calyx of Held. Using auditory brain stem response measurements (ABRs), we found that the physiological properties of MNTB changes with age. The mechanism is that in older animals, MNTB afferents demyelinate to various degrees, resulting in larger variability in the timing of responses. Myelin is produced by oligodendrocytes, and we found that fewer mature, but more precursor and immature oligodendrocytes are present in MNTB of aged animals, suggesting that the demyelination is an age-related deficit in oligodendrocyte maturation.

Contemporary directions in the therapy of sensory hearing loss

<b>Introduction:</b> More than 5% of the world’s population experience hearing impairment. The most common form is presbycusis (age-related hearing loss; ARHL). It affects almost one in three people over the age of 65. The hair cells of the cochlea play an important role in the process of sound registration. Genetic mutations, aging and environmental factors can cause damage that contributes to the hearing loss.<b>Methods and results:</b> The currently explored research directions include drug treatments, gene therapies, and stem cell therapies. To date, no significant differences in the therapeutic effect depending on the route of corticosteroid administration have been demonstrated in patients with moderate to severe hearing loss. New dexamethasone-containing hydrogel formulations, as well as lipid formulations, thermosensitive polymers, and nanoparticles, have been developed to achieve high drug concentrations in the inner ear structures. Otoprotective effects of antioxidants or substances that modify the toxic effects of e.g. cisplatin, are also being studied. Attempts at auditory cells’ regeneration seem promising in hearing loss research. Substances that regulate the central mechanisms of the Notch and Wnt pathways are being explored to this end. The genetic determinants of presbycusis suggest that interference at the level of specific genes may be a promising option for the treatment of this condition. With the CRISPR/Cas9 technology, the functions of inner ear genes can be effectively studied by disrupting normal gene alleles. The CRISPR/Cas9 complexes developed to target specific genes are delivered using cationic lipids, proteins, and viral vectors. They are then transported through the round window membrane by diffusion, without the need to surgically disrupt the inner ear. The potential of using antisense oligonucleotides to treat hereditary deafness caused by hair cell degeneration has also been established. Another research direction is related to stem cells being used for the development of in vitro 3D models of the human inner ear. Studies are also pursued to identify the mechanisms underlying the formation of cochlear organoids from pluripotent cells as well as determine the critical time points and events for cochlear sensory epithelial development and targeted hair cell differentiation.<b>Conclusions:</b> In summary, significant progress has been made over the past decade in the search for novel therapies for sensory hearing loss. This line of research remains an ambitious and important area for further exploration.

Stereocilia fusion pathology in the cochlear outer hair cells at the nanoscale level.

The hair bundle of cochlear hair cells comprises specialized microvilli, the stereocilia, which fulfil the role of mechanotransduction. Genetic defects and environmental noise challenge the maintenance of hair bundle structure, critically contributing to age-related hearing loss. Stereocilia fusion is a major component of the hair bundle pathology in mature hair cells, but its role in hearing loss and its molecular basis are poorly understood. Here, we utilized super-resolution expansion microscopy to examine the molecular anatomy of outer hair cell stereocilia fusion in mouse models of age-related hearing loss, heightened endoplasmic reticulum stress and prolonged noise exposure. Prominent stereocilia fusion in our model of heightened endoplasmic reticulum stress, Manf (Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor)-inactivated mice in a background with Cadherin 23missense mutation, impaired mechanotransduction and calcium balance in stereocilia. This was indicated by reduced FM1-43 dye uptake through the mechanotransduction channels, reduced neuroplastin/PMCA2 expression and increased expression of the calcium buffer oncomodulin inside stereocilia. Sparse BAIAP2L2 and myosin 7a expression was retained in the fused stereocilia but mislocalized away from their functional sites at the tips. These hair bundle abnormalities preceded cell soma degeneration, suggesting a sequela from stereociliary molecular perturbations to cell death signalling. In the age-related hearing loss and noise-exposure models, stereocilia fusion was more restricted within the bundles, yet both models exhibited oncomodulin upregulation at the fusion sites, implying perturbed calcium homeostasis. We conclude that stereocilia fusion is linked with the failure to maintain cellular proteostasis and with disturbances in stereociliary calcium balance. KEY POINTS: Stereocilia fusion is a hair cell pathology causing hearing loss. Inactivation of Manf, a component of the endoplasmic reticulum proteostasis machinery, has a cell-intrinsic mode of action in triggering outer hair cell stereocilia fusion and the death of these cells. The genetic background with Cadherin 23missense mutation contributes to the high susceptibility of outer hair cells to stereocilia fusion, evidenced in Manf-inactivated mice and in the mouse models of early-onset hearing loss and noise exposure. Endoplasmic reticulum stress feeds to outer hair cell stereocilia bundle pathology and impairs the molecular anatomy of calcium regulation. The maintenance of the outer hair cell stereocilia bundle cohesion is challenged by intrinsic and extrinsic stressors, and understanding the underlying mechanisms will probably benefit the development of interventions to promote hearing health.

Sst- and Vip-Cre mouse lines without age-related hearing loss.

GABAergic interneurons, including somatostatin (SST) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) positive cells, play a crucial role in cortical circuit processing. Cre recombinase-mediated manipulation of these interneurons is facilitated by commercially available knock-in mouse strains such as Sst-IRES-Cre (Sst-Cre) and Vip-IRES-Cre (Vip-Cre). However, these strains are troublesome for hearing research because they are only available on the C57BL/6 genetic background, which suffer from early onset age-related hearing loss (AHL) due to a mutation of the Cdh23 gene. To overcome this limitation, we backcrossed Sst-Cre and Vip-Cre mice to CBA mice to create normal-hearing offspring with the desired Cre transgenes. We confirmed that in these "CBA Cre" lines, Cre drives appropriate expression of Cre-dependent genes, by crossing CBA Cre mice to Ai14 reporter mice. To assess the hearing capabilities of the CBA Cre mice, we measured auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) using clicks and tones. CBA Cre mice showed significantly lower ABR thresholds compared to C57 control mice at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. In conclusion, our study successfully generated Sst-Cre and Vip-Cre mouse lines on the CBA background that will be valuable tools for investigating the roles of SST and VIP positive interneurons without the confounding effects of age-related hearing loss.

Resistance to age-related hearing loss in the echolocating big brown bat ( Eptesicus fuscus ).

Hearing mediates many behaviors critical for survival in echolocating bats, including foraging and navigation. Most mammals are susceptible to progressive age-related hearing loss; however, the evolution of biosonar, which requires the ability to hear low-intensity echoes from outgoing sonar signals, may have selected against the development of hearing deficits in echolocating bats. Although many echolocating bats exhibit exceptional longevity and rely on acoustic behaviors for survival to old age, relatively little is known about the aging bat auditory system. In this study, we used DNA methylation to estimate the ages of wild-caught big brown bats ( Eptesicus fuscus ) and measured hearing sensitivity in young and aging bats using auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). We found no evidence for hearing deficits in aging bats, demonstrated by comparable thresholds and similar ABR wave and DPOAE amplitudes across age groups. We additionally found no significant histological evidence for cochlear aging, with similar hair cell counts, afferent, and efferent innervation patterns in young and aging bats. Here we demonstrate that big brown bats show minimal evidence for age-related loss of peripheral hearing sensitivity and therefore represent informative models for investigating mechanisms that may preserve hearing function over a long lifetime.

Alpha and theta oscillations on a visual strategic processing task in age-related hearing loss.

Emerging evidence suggests changes in several cognitive control processes in individuals with age-related hearing loss (ARHL). However, value-directed strategic processing, which involves selectively processing salient information based on high value, has been relatively unexplored in ARHL. Our previous work has shown behavioral changes in strategic processing in individuals with ARHL. The current study examined event-related alpha and theta oscillations linked to a visual, value-directed strategic processing task in 19 individuals with mild untreated ARHL and 17 normal hearing controls of comparable age and education. Five unique word lists were presented where words were assigned high- or low-value based on the letter case, and electroencephalography (EEG) data was recorded during task performance. The main effect of the group was observed in early time periods. Specifically, greater theta synchronization was seen in the ARHL group relative to the control group. Interaction between group and value was observed at later time points, with greater theta synchronization for high- versus low-value information in those with ARHL. Our findings provide evidence for oscillatory changes tied to a visual task of value-directed strategic processing in individuals with mild untreated ARHL. This points towards modality-independent neurophysiological changes in cognitive control in individuals with mild degrees of ARHL and adds to the rapidly growing literature on the cognitive consequences of ARHL.

Sestrin2 plays a protective role in age-related hearing loss by inhibiting NLRP3-inflammasome activity

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is an auditory disease characterized by gradual loss of high-frequency hearing sensitivity. Excessive reactive oxygen species trigger NLRP3-inflammasome activation that may be crucial for ARHL pathogenesis. The antioxidant factor Sestrin2 (SESN2) has been reported to be involved in the remission of oxidative stress and ARHL. However, the mechanism by which SESN2 protects auditory cells in the aging mouse cochlea remains unknown. Here, we observed that ectopic overexpression of SESN2 delayed ARHL, whereas SESN2 knockdown accelerated it. Importantly, we elucidated that SESN2 exerts a hearing-protective effect by inhibiting the production of NLRP3 by acting as a mitophagy agonist. Our study proposes a new theoretical basis for SESN2 prevention of ARHL and provides a novel therapeutic strategy for maintaining SESN2 activity in the aging cochlea.

Extended High-Frequency Thresholds: Associations With Demographic and Risk Factors, Cognitive Ability, and Hearing Outcomes in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

This study had two objectives: to examine associations between extended high-frequency (EHF) thresholds, demographic factors (age, sex, race/ethnicity), risk factors (cardiovascular, smoking, noise exposure, occupation), and cognitive abilities; and to determine variance explained by EHF thresholds for speech perception in noise, self-rated workload/effort, and self-reported hearing difficulties. This study was a retrospective analysis of a data set from the MUSC Longitudinal Cohort Study of Age-related Hearing Loss. Data from 347 middle-aged adults (45 to 64 years) and 694 older adults (≥ 65 years) were analyzed for this study. Speech perception was quantified using low-context Speech Perception In Noise (SPIN) sentences. Self-rated workload/effort was measured using the effort prompt from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Task Load Index. Self-reported hearing difficulty was assessed using the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly/Adults. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Task and the Stroop Neuropsychological Screening Test were used to assess selected cognitive abilities. Pure-tone averages representing conventional and EHF thresholds between 9 and 12 kHz (PTA (9 - 12 kHz) ) were utilized in simple linear regression analyses to examine relationships between thresholds and demographic and risk factors or in linear regression models to assess the contributions of PTA (9 - 12 kHz) to the variance among the three outcomes of interest. Further analyses were performed on a subset of individuals with thresholds ≤ 25 dB HL at all conventional frequencies to control for the influence of hearing loss on the association between PTA (9 - 12 kHz) and outcome measures. PTA (9 - 12 kHz) was higher in males than females, and was higher in White participants than in racial Minority participants. Linear regression models showed the associations between cardiovascular risk factors and PTA (9 - 12 kHz) were not statistically significant. Older adults who reported a history of noise exposure had higher PTA (9 - 12 kHz) than those without a history, while associations between noise history and PTA (9 - 12 kHz) did not reach statistical significance for middle-aged participants. Linear models adjusting for age, sex, race and noise history showed that higher PTA (9 - 12 kHz) was associated with greater self-perceived hearing difficulty and poorer speech recognition scores in noise for both middle-aged and older participants. Workload/effort was significantly related to PTA (9 - 12 kHz) for middle-aged, but not older, participants, while cognitive task performance was correlated with PTA (9 - 12 kHz) only for older participants. In general, PTA (9 - 12 kHz) did not account for additional variance in outcome measures as compared to conventional pure-tone thresholds, with the exception of self-reported hearing difficulties in older participants. Linear models adjusting for age and accounting for subject-level correlations in the subset analyses revealed no association between PTA (9 - 12 kHz) and outcomes of interest. EHF thresholds show age-, sex-, and race-related patterns of elevation that are similar to what is observed for conventional thresholds. The current results support the need for more research to determine the utility of adding EHF thresholds to routine audiometric assessment with middle-aged and older adults.

Factors in the Effective Use of Hearing Aids among Subjects with Age-Related Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: Investigate factors contributing to the effective management of age-related hearing loss (ARHL) rehabilitation. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022374811). Articles were identified through systematic searches in the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases in May 2024. Only articles published between January 2005 and May 2024 were included. Studies were assessed for eligibility by two independent researchers and evaluated using the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool v1.4 (CCAT). Results: Of the 278 articles identified, 54 were included. Three factors explain effective HA use. First, hearing aid signal processing, with directional microphones and noise reduction, improves user comfort and understanding regarding noise. Second, there is hearing aid fitting, with the NAL prescription rules as the gold standard, and bilateral, high-level HA performance for spatial localization and noise comprehension. Third, there is a patient-centered approach, using patient-related outcome measures (PROMs), questionnaires, counseling, and regular follow-up to involve patients in their therapeutic rehabilitation. Conclusions: Reaching a consensus on acoustic parameters is challenging due to variability in audiological results. Involving patients in their rehabilitation, addressing their needs and expectations, and offering individualized care are crucial.

The Relationship Between Lower Vitamin D Levels and Hearing Loss in Older Adults.

: Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a sensorineural disease that is associated with a number of factors. In addition to age, sex, environment, lifestyle, and comorbidities are all known to be related to ARHL as well. The prevalence of ARHL can be reduced by controlling the adjustable factors that cause it. Vitamin D levels are strongly related to calcium metabolism, which can affect ARHL. This study aimed to investigate the association between vitamin D and ARHL. : A total of 1,104 subjects aged >65 years were enrolled from the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which was conducted from 2010-2012. Every participant received both an audiological assessment and a nutritional survey. The association between ARHL and serum vitamin D concentration was analyzed using logistic regression analyses with complex sampling adjusted for confounding factors such as alcohol consumption, smoking status, mobility, and bone mineral density. : Our multivariable analysis revealed that males in the group with lower serum levels of vitamin D (< 20 ng/mL) had a higher prevalence of ARHL (odds ratio, 1.638, 95% confidence interval, 1.058-2.538, p=0.027). : This finding suggests that lower serum levels of vitamin D are associated with ARHL in the older male population.

Leveraging natural language processing models to automate speech-intelligibility scoring

ABSTRACT Assessment of speech intelligibility in noise is critical for measuring the impact of age-related hearing loss. However, quantifying intelligibility often requires a human to manually process responses provided by a participant or patient to obtain a speech-intelligibility score – typically the proportion of correctly heard words. This manual process can be time-consuming and thus costly. The current study investigates whether state-of-the-art Natural Language Processing (NLP) models from Google and OpenAI could be used to calculate speech-intelligibility scores as an alternative to human scoring. It was specifically tested whether NLP models capture common speech-in-noise perception phenomena in younger and older adults (N = 144) listening to speech masked by modulated or unmodulated babble noise. The results show that NLP speech-intelligibility scores closely matched intelligibility scores from a human scorer (r ∼0.95). The main difference is, on average, ∼2% underestimation of NLP intelligibility scores relative to human intelligibility scores for moderate to high signal-to-noise ratios. This underestimation results from participants making minor errors related to misspellings, gender, or tense, to which NLP models are sensitive, but human scorers typically correct prior to scoring. Critically, NLP models capture the known age-related reduction in intelligibility and the age-related reduction in the benefit from a modulated relative to an unmodulated masker. OpenAI’s ADA2 appears to perform the best out of the tested NLP models, showing no difference in the speech-in-noise phenomena compared to human scoring. The current study suggests that modern NLP models can be used to score speech-intelligibility data.

Effect of age-related extended high frequency hearing loss on the subjective impressions of dental drill noise

Fear and anxiety among patients are sometimes evoked in dental clinics due to the sound of dental drills. This study aimed to explore the impact of age-related hearing loss in the extended high frequency (EHF) range above 8 kHz on individuals' subjective discomfort towards dental drill noise. After measuring pure-tone audiometric thresholds at both conventional and extended high frequencies, we used a psychoacoustic approach to evaluate subjective impressions of four dental drill sound stimuli, which featured varying frequency components, in 62 participants (aged 12–67 years). We found a significant decrease in hearing sensitivity within the EHF range as age increased, with notable differences in hearing thresholds at 14 kHz between teenage and older adults exceeding 65 dB. Furthermore, significant differences were observed between younger and older (above 40 years) participants in the subjective impressions of dental drill noise, emphasizing age as a critical factor in the perception of high frequency components. Consequently, age may influence the unpleasantness of dental drilling noise. Compared to older individuals, young participants may exhibit increased fear of dental procedures owing to physiological factors. These results underscore the need for age-appropriate noise control strategies in dental clinics to mitigate anxiety and improve patient comfort.

The chromatin accessibility and transcriptomic landscape of the aging mice cochlea and the identification of potential functional super-enhancers in age-related hearing loss

BackgroundPresbycusis, also referred to as age-related hearing loss (ARHL), is a condition that results from the cumulative effects of aging on an individual's auditory capabilities. Given the limited understanding of epigenetic mechanisms in ARHL, our research focuses on alterations in chromatin-accessible regions.MethodsWe employed assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) in conjunction with unique identifier (UID) mRNA-seq between young and aging cochleae, and conducted integrated analysis as well as motif/TF-gene prediction. Additionally, the essential role of super-enhancers (SEs) in the development of ARHL was identified by comparative analysis to previous research. Meanwhile, an ARHL mouse model and an aging mimic hair cell (HC) model were established with a comprehensive identification of senescence phenotypes to access the role of SEs in ARHL progression.ResultsThe control cochlear tissue exhibited greater chromatin accessibility than cochlear tissue affected by ARHL. Furthermore, the levels of histone 3 lysine 27 acetylation were significantly depressed in both aging cochlea and aging mimic HEI-OC1 cells, highlighting the essential role of SEs in the development of ARHL. The potential senescence-associated super-enhancers (SASEs) of ARHL were identified, most of which exhibited decreased chromatin accessibility. The majority of genes related to the SASEs showed obvious decreases in mRNA expression level in aging HCs and was noticeably altered following treatment with JQ1 (a commonly used SE inhibitor).ConclusionThe chromatin accessibility in control cochlear tissue was higher than that in cochlear tissue affected by ARHL. Potential SEs involved in ARHL were identified, which might provide a basis for future therapeutics targeting SASEs related to ARHL.

Low-Dose Aspirin and Progression of Age-Related Hearing Loss

Age-related hearing loss is common in an aging population, affecting communication and contributing to a worsened quality of life. It occurs as a result of cochlear degeneration and may be further exacerbated by inflammation and microvascular changes, as observed in animal models. To compare the effect of daily low-dose aspirin vs placebo on the progression of age-related hearing loss in healthy older adults. A prespecified secondary analysis was conducted of the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) randomized clinical trial. Participants were 279 healthy community-dwelling individuals living in Australia who were aged 70 years or older and free of overt cardiovascular diseases, dementia, and life-limiting illnesses. Participants were recruited between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2014, and followed up over 3 years. Statistical analysis was completed from June to December 2023. A 100-mg daily dose of enteric-coated aspirin or matching placebo. Hearing measures were air conduction audiometry and binaural speech perception in noise. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 18 months, and 3 years. The change from baseline hearing measures were analyzed using an intention to treat approach. Aspirin and placebo were compared using mixed linear regression models adjusting for age, sex, diabetes, and smoking. Of 279 participants, 154 (55%) were male, and the median age at baseline was 73.1 years (IQR, 71.5-76.2 years). A total of 98 of 138 participants (71%) in the aspirin group and 94 of 141 participants (67%) in the placebo group reported experiencing hearing loss at baseline. Compared with placebo, aspirin did not affect the changes in mean (SD) 4-frequency average hearing threshold from baseline to year 3 (aspirin: baseline, 27.8 [13.3] dB; year 3, 30.7 [13.7] dB; difference, 3.3 [3.9] dB; placebo: baseline, 27.5 [12.6] dB; year 3, 30.9 [13.8] dB; difference, 3.0 [4.8] dB; P = .55) nor any other tested frequencies. An increase in air conduction threshold indicates a deterioration in hearing. Similarly, for the mean (SD) speech reception threshold, there was no significant difference observed between the aspirin and placebo group at the year 3 follow-up assessment (aspirin: baseline, -9.9 [3.8] dB; year 3, -9.1 [3.8] dB; difference, 0.9 [2.9] dB; placebo: baseline, -10.5 [7.1] dB; year 3, -9.6 [4.1] dB; difference, 0.9 [5.9] dB; P = .86). The findings were consistent across sex, age groups, diabetic and smoking status. In this secondary analysis of the ASPREE randomized clinical trial, low-dose aspirin did not affect the progression of age-related hearing loss. More investigation is warranted on whether a longer follow-up or the use of a more powerful anti-inflammatory agent might prove beneficial. anzctr.org.au Identifier: ACTRN12614000496617.