MCI Speech in Noise

Speech Perception in Noise as an Improved Marker for Neurocognitive Dysfunction

The purpose of this study is to determine whether people with MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) and healthy comparison subjects differ with respect to their ability to hear soft sounds and how their brain understands and processes sound. The investigators are also evaluating, within those with MCI, whether the hearing tests are associated with neurocognitive functioning. The investigators are interested in learning whether changes in cognition in those with MCI can be detected using tests of how the brain processes sound. The investigators hypothesize that participants with MCI will score worse on both hearing tests and neurocognitive tests than participants without MCI. Participants are asked to complete multiple types of hearing tests, take a series of neurocognitive tests, and complete a few questionnaires.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Mild Cognitive Impairment

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 70

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Samantha Leigh, BS; Phone Number: 5408195715; Email: samantha.m.leigh@dartmouth.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • New Hampshire
    • Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States, 03756
      • Recruiting
      • Space Medicine Lab at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
      • Contact: Samantha Leigh, BS; Phone Number: 5408195715; Email: samantha.m.leigh@dartmouth.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The community in and around Lebanon, NH and patients from DHMC.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults diagnosed with or suspected to have MCI (for MCI group) or are cognitively normal (for Control group)
• Absence of other risk factors that might affect CAP (Central Auditory Processing) performance (e.g., active ear infections, congenital developmental delay, severe hearing loss)
• Age 55-80
• Normal hearing sensitivity (<40 dB HL Pure Tone Average (average of 500, 1000, 2000 Hz) thresholds bilaterally
• Normal middle ear function defined by tympanometry (0.3-2.0 ml)
• Native English speaker

Exclusion Criteria:

• Active ear infections or abnormal middle ear pathology
• Other health condition prohibiting the completion of the CAP test battery
• Mild to profound peripheral hearing loss (>40 dB (decibel) HL (hearing loss) Pure Tone Average (average of 500, 1000, 2000 Hz) bilaterally
• Adults unable to consent
• Individuals who are not yet adults (infants, children, teenagers)
• Prisoners
• History of CNS (Central Nervous System) disorder that might severely impact cognitive function (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, neurosyphilis, intracranial tumors, history of significant head trauma with loss of consciousness (≥30 min), and cerebrovascular disease)
• Severe mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
• Current, uncontrolled medical condition that could affect cognition (e.g., hypertension)
• History of substance use disorder within the (other than nicotine/caffeine)
• Non-correctable severe hearing or vision loss
• Use of "Cognition Enhancing Drugs"
• Frequent, severe headaches (occasional headaches or migraines are fine)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
MCI; Participants diagnosed with or suspected to have MCI
Control; Participants without MCI

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Hearing-in-Noise Test Performance	The performance for Hearing in Noise Tests (HINT) between energetic masking and 2-talker informational masking (IM). Performance will be measured by the lowest signal-to-noise ratio (volume at which sentences are presented compared to background noise volume) that can be heard by the participant.	1 time point (takes 15 minutes)
Triple Digit in Noise Test Performance	Performance for the behavioral Triple Digit (TDT) between energetic masking and 2-talker informational masking (IM). Performance will be measured by the lowest signal-to-noise ratio (volume at which digits are presented compared to background noise volume) that can be heard by the participant.	1 time point (takes 15 minutes)
Size of auditory neural response in background noise	The change in amplitude of neural response between energetic masking and 2-talker informational masking (IM).	1 time point (takes 45 minutes)
Timing of auditory neural response in background noise	The change in latency of neural response between energetic masking and 2-talker informational masking (IM).	1 time point (takes 45 minutes)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
• Collaborators: Dartmouth College

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 18, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 2, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 17, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 24, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): October 26, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 13, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 12, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Cognition Disorders; Cognitive Dysfunction
• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY02002079

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No