Researchers: Dr Helen Nuttall, Professor Chris Plack, and Dr Kate Slade.
Hearing loss affects over 11 million people in the UK, and it increases with age meaning that 71% of people aged 70+ have hearing loss. Not only does hearing loss make communication difficult, it can effect wellbeing, mental health, cause social withdrawal, and is a risk factor for cognitive decline. Our project aims to understand how the brain is affected or changed by ageing and hearing loss. In our lab-based research we use neuroscientific methods to measure the electrical signals that happen in the brain when we listen to speech, this method is called Electroencephalography (EEG). We also use brain stimulation (TMS) to understand which parts of the brain are involved when we listen to speech.
Current opportunities to take part in The Hearing Brain Project research: