# Objective, subjective, and informant-based measures of hearing difficulties in adults with dementia

> **NIH NIH K01** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $96,863

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Recommendation for treatment of hearing loss with hearing aids is usually driven by results of tests of
auditory thresholds, middle ear function, and word recognition, which provide the audiologist with an
accurate picture of peripheral and central auditory system function. However, only an estimated 20-
30% of individuals identified as hearing-aid candidates, report using them. Hearing handicap, which
is only moderately correlated with hearing loss, is a better predictor of who may need and benefit
from hearing aids. However, the factors that contribute to self-reported hearing handicap are not
well understood. Research regarding hearing loss treatment is primarily focused on hearing-related
(e.g., elevated thresholds, reduced speech-in-noise perception) or device-related (e.g., compression
strategies, noise reduction technology) factors, with fewer studies, focused on the effects of individual
differences in psychological factors, such as personality and cognitive abilities. The current study
proposes to use advanced statistical techniques to investigate how individual differences in
personality and cognition contribute to and define the construct of hearing handicap, and determine
how hearing loss, hearing handicap, cognition, and personality influence hearing aid use. Results
from this program of research will inform the development of more comprehensive and effective
hearing healthcare treatment options for the growing number of older adults with hearing handicap
across the United States.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10121640
- **Project number:** 3K01DC017522-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Katrina McClannahan
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $96,863
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-07-12 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10121640

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10121640, Objective, subjective, and informant-based measures of hearing difficulties in adults with dementia (3K01DC017522-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10121640. Licensed CC0.

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