University of Florida
Hearing loss, especially for speech perception in the presence of noise, may lead older individuals to withdraw from social situations. While hearing aids help amplify sound and are useful in many situations, they can be ineffective in noisy contexts. The proposed pilot study will evaluate taVNS for improving speech in noise perception in adults with age-related hearing loss.
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults 55-80 years old * Normal hearing or age-related hearing loss (with or without hearing aids) Exclusion Criteria: * History of traumatic brain injury or noise trauma * Implanted medical devices (eg., pacemaker) or ferrous metal * Known history of heart conditions * Medications that impact neurotransmitters released by vagus nerve stimulation
active electrical stimulation applied to the cymba conchae of the left ear
electrical stimulation applied to a location on the ear not innervated by the auricular vagus
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