Research
The research of the Lifespan Auditory Neuroscience Lab is centred on how we perceive and process sounds across the lifespan, with particular focus on how age-related changes in hearing affect cognition, communication, and quality of life.
A central theme of our current work examines hearing and cognition during the menopause transition. Little is known about how hormonal changes during the menopause transition affect auditory processing. Our research investigates this gap, examining how oestrogen decline influences hearing and cognitive function in midlife women.
We take a multi-level approach, combining neurophysiological methods, behavioural measures of hearing and cognition, and lived experience research to understand both the neural mechanisms of auditory processing and the real-world impact of hearing changes during this critical life transition.
Hearing and Cognition
Hearing loss has been associated with cognitive decline and is recognised as a modifiable risk factor for dementia, accounting for 8% of all dementia cases. Our work investigates how auditory processing is linked to cognitive function across midlife. This includes measuring brain responses at subcortical and cortical levels using EEG and exploring the link to cognitive performance.
Hearing and Menopause
Hormonal changes during the menopause transition, particularly the decline in oestrogen, influence both sensory and cognitive systems. Our research examines how menopause affects hearing and its relationship to cognitive function in midlife women, investigating both the underlying brain mechanisms and women's lived experiences of these changes.
Subjective and Objective Hearing
Many individuals report hearing difficulties despite having clinically "normal" hearing, while others are unaware of their hearing loss. Our research examines the disconnect between subjective and objective hearing measures and how this mismatch might help us to better understand real-world listening challenges and cognitive effort.
