Brief Title
The Effect of Sound Stimulation on Hearing Ability
Official Title
The Effect of Sound Stimulation on Hearing Ability
Brief Summary
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 Type
Interventional
Primary Outcome
Changes of pure-tone hearing thresholds after sound stimulation
Condition
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Intervention
Sound stimulation
Publications
* Includes publications given by the data provider as well as publications identified by National Clinical Trials Identifier (NCT ID) in Medline.
Recruitment Information
Recruitment Status
Behavioral
Estimated Enrollment
21
Start Date
September 2011
Completion Date
April 2012
Primary Completion Date
February 2012
Eligibility Criteria
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
Gender
All
Ages
20 Years - 70 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Contacts
Eunyee Kwak, Ph.D., ,
Location Countries
Korea, Republic of
Location Countries
Korea, Republic of
Administrative Informations
NCT ID
NCT01434446
Organization ID
IEK 08252011
Responsible Party
Sponsor
Study Sponsor
Earlogic Korea, Inc.
Study Sponsor
Eunyee Kwak, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, Earlogic Auditory Research Institute
Verification Date
April 2012