Zapping the brain while training the ear: a new tactic to hear one voice in a crowd
NCT ID NCT06738030
First seen Jul 29, 2026 · Last updated Jul 30, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether non-invasive brain stimulation can enhance the effects of an at-home auditory training program for adults aged 50 and older who have difficulty understanding speech when multiple people are talking. Participants receive transcranial alternating current stimulation (or a sham) while listening to speech-on-speech tasks, and complete online auditory training over two weeks. The goal is to see if the combination improves speech understanding and reduces listening effort.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- transcranial alternating current stimulation combined with an at-home auditory training program
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this approach could offer a non-invasive way to improve speech understanding in noisy environments for older adults.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage trial with a modest sample size. The stimulation may not provide additional benefit beyond auditory training alone, and individual results may vary.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Communication Neuroscience Research Lab at Boston University
RECRUITINGBoston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States