The Effect of Sound Stimulation on Hearing Ability

April 2, 2012 updated by: Earlogic Korea, Inc.

In the late 1990s, researchers discovered that acoustic stimuli slow progressive sensorineural hearing loss and exposure to a moderately augmented acoustic environment can delay the loss of auditory function. In addition, prolonged exposure to an augmented acoustic environment could improve age-related auditory changes. These ameliorative effects were shown in several types of mouse strains, as long as the acoustic environment was provided prior to the occurrence of severe hearing loss.

In addition to delaying progressive hearing loss, acoustic stimuli could also protect hearing ability against damage by traumatic noise. In particular, a method called forward sound conditioning (i.e., prior exposure to moderate levels of sound) has been shown to reduce noise-induced hearing impairment in a number of mammalian species, including humans.

Interestingly, recent report has suggested that low-level sound conditioning also reduces free radical-induced damage to hair cells, increases antioxidant enzyme activity, and reduces Cox-2 expression in cochlea, and can enhance cochlear sensitivity. Specifically, increased cochlear sensitivity was observed when distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and compound action potentials (CAPs) were measured.

In addition to forward sound conditioning, backward sound conditioning (i.e., the use of acoustic stimuli after exposure to a traumatic noise) has been shown to protect hearing ability against acoustic trauma and to prevent the cortical map reorganization induced by traumatic noise.

In this study, the investigators examine the effect of sound stimulation on hearing ability in human subjects.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

21

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Korea, Republic of
      • Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 121-270
        • Earlogic Auditory Research Institute

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

20 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male and female
  • Age between 20 and 70 years
  • Subjects should be able to use an mp3 player

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Hearing loss more than 70 dB HL at any frequency
  • More than 10 dB of air-bone gaps at more than 3 frequencies in pure-tone audiometry
  • Ear infections, chronic middle ear disease or any abnormality of the ear canal or ear drum
  • Temporary hearing loss
  • Hearing aid user
  • Pregnant females

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes of pure-tone hearing thresholds after sound stimulation
Time Frame: 2~6 months
Pure-tone hearing thresholds of the baseline and the final point (after 2~6 months)will be compared.
2~6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Earlogic Korea, Inc.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Eunyee Kwak, Ph.D., Earlogic Auditory Research Institute

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

September 1, 2011

Primary Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2012

Study Completion (Actual)

April 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 9, 2011

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 14, 2011

First Posted (Estimate)

September 15, 2011

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

April 3, 2012

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 2, 2012

Last Verified

April 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IEK 08252011

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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