We have a funded PhD position available at Newcastle University, UK.
This PhD investigates the joint impact of hearing loss and cognitive decline on older adults. Age-related hearing loss [ARHL] affects more than half the UK population aged over 55. Dementia, which typically affects older adults, is the UK's biggest health and social care crisis. Crucially, ARHL and cognitive decline co-occur, and ARHL has been suggested to be potentially the most modifiable risk factor for dementia. To exploit this therapeutic potential, it is essential that we better understand the connection between the two.
In this PhD, you will collect data from older adults assessing relevant perceptual and cognitive factors, including hearing ability, central auditory processing, speech perception and memory. You will use this data to statistically model the relationships between ageing, perception, and cognition. Crucially, both chronological and biological age will be measured, allowing a better understanding of the mechanisms driving concomitant sensory and cognitive declines.
You will develop a diverse skills portfolio, working in a cross-disciplinary team with considerable breadth of expertise. Newcastle University’s excellence in ageing and speech perception research means that your work will be supported by initiatives such as the Ageing and Inequalities Centre of Research Excellence, and facilities such as the Clinical Ageing Research Unit.
Supervisors: Dr Scott McDonald (Psychology),
Dr Sarah Knight (Psychology) and
Dr Christos Salis (Education, Communication and Language Sciences).
For further details, please contact Dr Scott McDonald and Dr Sarah Knight (
scott.mcdonald@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx /
sarah.knight@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx).