The Effect of Sound Stimulation on Hearing Ability

NCT ID: NCT01434446

Last Updated: 2012-04-03

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 21 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2011-09-30
• Study Completion Date: 2012-04-30

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.

Conditions

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Interventions

Sound stimulation

Listening to sound stimuli at the lowest audible level.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

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

• Minimum Eligible Age: 20 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 70 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Earlogic Korea, Inc.

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Eunyee Kwak, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Earlogic Auditory Research Institute

Locations

Earlogic Auditory Research Institute

Seoul, , South Korea

Countries

South Korea

Other Identifiers

IEK 08252011

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id