Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Our proposed research is based on an auditory processing deficit called hidden hearing loss. Hidden hearing loss is caused by defects in the cochlea (the peripheral auditory organ), affecting the perception of sound. Interestingly, individuals with hidden hearing loss often go undetected on standard auditory tests, hence the name hidden hearing loss, as this deficit manifests more prominently in noisy environments, such as at a restaurant or a coffee shop. We are interested in exploring the heritability of hidden hearing loss and whether there is a relationship with cognitive decline. By determining if there is a genetic component to hidden hearing loss it may allow us to identify individuals who are at an increased risk of experiencing this auditory deficit and may potentially enable us to isolate risk genes. Further, we are interested in investigating if there is a relationship between hidden hearing loss and cognitive decline as it has been shown in recent years that there is an association with 'normal' hearing loss and cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease. Therefore, it logically follows that hidden hearing loss may too have an impact on cognitive decline and may serve as a preclinical marker for neurodegenerative disease. We propose to investigate these research questions by creating family pedigrees based on auditory processing and cognitive profiles. The information gained through the completion of this study has implications for various aspects of the healthcare system including, but not limited to, increased patient health, individualized auditory healthcare, and earlier diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease, resulting in a decreased strain on the healthcare system.