Project Title: The Relationship Between Distressing Tinnitus and Physical Inactivity or Sedentary Lifestyle: A Scoping Review
A scoping review is to map existing evidence on this relationship, clarify conceptual links, and identify research gaps. Key questions include: (1) What is known about the association between tinnitus distress and sedentary lifestyle? (2) Are there documented benefits of structured physical activity interventions on tinnitus-related outcomes? (3) What mechanisms have been proposed to explain these interactions? By synthesizing findings across epidemiological, clinical, and experimental studies, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge base.
Project Title: Distressing Tinnitus in Sedentary College-Age Students: Prevalence, Psychological Burden, and Lifestyle Factors
This study aims to explore the prevalence of distressing tinnitus among college-age students who lead predominantly sedentary lifestyles. Understanding this relationship could shed light on potential lifestyle factors contributing to tinnitus distress and highlight the importance of physical activity as a possible mitigating factor. The findings may inform future interventions to improve auditory health and overall well-being in this population.
Project Title: The Role of Bertec Vision Trainer In Distressing Tinnitus
This study will utilize a novel, non-invasive approach that leverages the Bertec Vision Trainer (BVT), a multisensory system originally designed for performance and rehabilitation. By incorporating interactive, gamified tasks that train crucial elements of physical activity, including balance, visual-motor coordination, and cognitive control, this research offers a new pathway for tinnitus management, one that supports neuroplastic change and helps redirect attentional focus away from tinnitus.
Project Title: Enhancing Mobility in Older Adults with Age-Related Hearing Loss: The Impact of Hearing Aid Use on Conscious Movement Processing, Fall-Related Anxiety, and Visuomotor Control.
In recent decades, the landscape of hearing devices, particularly hearing aids, as a pivotal step in audiological rehabilitation, has undergone a remarkable evolution. This transformation entails a shift from basic amplifiers to sophisticated instruments dynamically adapting to specific environments, offering contextually relevant benefits. Beyond their primary role in enhancing hearing, these devices now function as comprehensive health and well-being trackers, monitoring various aspects of auditory functioning, including physical, physiological, and mental well-being.
Understanding the intricate relationship between hearing loss and the role of hearing aids on, conscious movement processing, fall-related anxiety, and motor actions in adults and older adults is crucial for developing targeted interventions to enhance mobility, safety, and overall well-being in older adults. The findings from this study may lead to better-designed hearing aids that consider mobility and safety factors and offer interventions to improve the quality of life for older adults with hearing loss in adults and older adults, promoting healthier aging in this population.
Project Title: Hearing Loss and Voice Disorders: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Optimize Hearing Aid Fitting
Individuals with hearing loss can face specific challenges when communicating with speakers who have voice disorders, such as hoarseness or dysphonia. These challenges can range from difficulties in speech perception and increased listening effort to potential social and emotional consequences. Addressing the combined impact of hearing loss and voice disorders requires a holistic approach to improve communication outcomes and enhance the overall well-being of individuals with these conditions. The purpose of this study is to create standardized speech recognition tasks for the evaluation of speech perception of hoarseness by hearing-impaired listeners, so it can be used to optimize hearing aid fitting.