2022 Participants
Nabilah Ahmad Syamsury
Losing the ability to hear sounds in quiet is the biggest risk factor for dementia but the reasons for this are unknown. Socioeconomic factors are known to modify risks for dementia and hearing in quiet but whether these modify hearing in noise has not been studied before. Hearing in noise measures may be better linked to risks for dementia.
The project studied how one’s socioeconomic status can affect their ability to hear in quiet and in noise. Research has shown that the latter, an effortless but complex ability, can be linked to one’s memory and thinking abilities. We tested the hearing of 81 participants and established a link between barriers to housing and hearing in quiet abilities. Our current study could potentially lead to simple hearing tests that could be used to test cognitive decline and dementia worldwide.
Funding source: Newcastle University
Project supervisor: Dr Meher Lad