# Speech understanding ability and communication intervention for persons with age-related hearing loss and mild cognitive impairment or dementia

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST · 2022 · $138,596

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The long-term objective of this proposal is to increase the accessibility and affordability of hearing loss
treatment for older adults with hearing loss and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer’s disease and
related dementias (ADRD) by improving our knowledge base of speech perception abilities in this population
and directly translating that knowledge into a tailored approach to hearing intervention. Age-related hearing
loss (ARHL) in persons with MCI or dementia may exacerbate dementia-related symptoms such as
depression, apathy, agitation/aggression. Moreover, engagement and activity participation are recognized as
critical aspects of dementia care management, but those individuals who also experience ARHL are at a
disadvantage. The aims of this proposal include basic science investigation as well as refinement and pilot
testing of a behavioral communication intervention.
Aim 1 will focus on controlled laboratory measures of speech perception abilities in complex background noise
as well as the ability to benefit from common communication repair strategies in groups of older adults with
MCI/early stage dementia and older adults matched with these individuals for age and hearing thresholds. This
aim will improve our theoretical understanding of speech perception abilities for older adults with cognitive
impairment. The investigations undertaken in Aim 2 will focus on assessing and defining the functional burden
of ARHL and cognitive impairment in group care settings for older adults. A mixed methods approach will be
undertaken in Aim 2 to better understand how the quantitative aspects of the prevalence of ARHL and
cognitive impairment interact with the acoustic environment as well as the behavioral/social context of staff and
peer interactions in the group care setting. Finally, the multicomponent hearing care intervention to be tested in
Aim 3 includes acoustic modifications, staff training, and non-custom personal amplification use with target
individuals in a group care setting. This feasibility study will lead to the refinement of the intervention protocols
to be used in a future grant application that will test the real-world efficacy of the intervention in a cluster-
randomized control trial.
Dr. Sara Mamo is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Disorders in the
School of Public Health and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. With this Mentored
Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award, Dr. Mamo intends to develop methodological skills
related to testing speech perception and improve her knowledge base in the theoretical underpinnings of
behavioral interventions, the evidence-based approaches to clinical management of dementia, and statistical
analyses of longitudinal outcomes. These key training components will support the development of a hearing
care intervention that can be integrated into comprehensive care of older adults with cognitive...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10437659
- **Project number:** 5K23DC016855-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
- **Principal Investigator:** Sara K. Mamo
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $138,596
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-02 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10437659

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10437659, Speech understanding ability and communication intervention for persons with age-related hearing loss and mild cognitive impairment or dementia (5K23DC016855-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10437659. Licensed CC0.

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