Using Pupillometry to Evaluate Listening Effort in Veterans with Dual Sensory Impairment

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to obtain pupillometry responses from Veterans with dual sensory impairment (DSI; hearing and vision loss) and Veterans with single sensory impairment (SSI; hearing loss) while listening to a variety of acoustic stimuli. Task-invoked pupil dilation reflects components of listening effort and affective processing, and we will use pupillometry to determine whether these processes differ amongst elderly participants with DSI and SSI. We will present the data as a case series and expect to find overall greater pupil dilation responses within the DSI group. Participants must be 82 years or younger, with a diagnosis of either hearing impairment and vision impairment, or hearing impairment and no vision impairment. They must be hearing aid users. Exclusion criteria includes severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), severe psychiatric illness, recent illicit substance abuse, and use of a prosthetic eye. Each participant is required to complete the following questionnaires: Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Inventory of Hyperacusis Symptoms, Beck’s Depression Inventory. Root mean squared error (RMSE) values will be measured to ensure a proper hearing aid fit. We will analyze changes in pupil dilation during specific time landmarks, including the listening and “rehearsal” phases. We will analyze these pupil responses to AzBio sentences presented in quiet and at a +5 dB signal-to-noise ratio (10 practice sentences + 80 trials), and affective sounds (five practice sounds + 60 trials). We are actively recruiting participants and anticipate recruiting 3-5 participants in the DSI group and 3-5 age-matched controls in the SSI group.

Start Time

16-4-2025 1:30 PM

End Time

16-4-2025 4:00 PM

Presentation Type

Poster

Presentation Category

Health

Student Type

Clinical Doctoral Student (e.g., medical student, pharmacy student)

Faculty Mentor

Nicholas Giuliani

Faculty Department

Audiology and Speech Language Pathology

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Apr 16th, 1:30 PM Apr 16th, 4:00 PM

Using Pupillometry to Evaluate Listening Effort in Veterans with Dual Sensory Impairment

The purpose of this study is to obtain pupillometry responses from Veterans with dual sensory impairment (DSI; hearing and vision loss) and Veterans with single sensory impairment (SSI; hearing loss) while listening to a variety of acoustic stimuli. Task-invoked pupil dilation reflects components of listening effort and affective processing, and we will use pupillometry to determine whether these processes differ amongst elderly participants with DSI and SSI. We will present the data as a case series and expect to find overall greater pupil dilation responses within the DSI group. Participants must be 82 years or younger, with a diagnosis of either hearing impairment and vision impairment, or hearing impairment and no vision impairment. They must be hearing aid users. Exclusion criteria includes severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), severe psychiatric illness, recent illicit substance abuse, and use of a prosthetic eye. Each participant is required to complete the following questionnaires: Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Inventory of Hyperacusis Symptoms, Beck’s Depression Inventory. Root mean squared error (RMSE) values will be measured to ensure a proper hearing aid fit. We will analyze changes in pupil dilation during specific time landmarks, including the listening and “rehearsal” phases. We will analyze these pupil responses to AzBio sentences presented in quiet and at a +5 dB signal-to-noise ratio (10 practice sentences + 80 trials), and affective sounds (five practice sounds + 60 trials). We are actively recruiting participants and anticipate recruiting 3-5 participants in the DSI group and 3-5 age-matched controls in the SSI group.