Linnaeus Centre HEAD

Illustration of hearing.
Cognitive hearing science

Our hearing plays an important role when communicating with others.
But how important is cognitive abilities when it comes to our hearing?
This question is the focus at Linnaeus Centre HEAD. Together we develop new knowledge that helps people with hearing loss in their everyday life.

Since it was founded in 2008, the Linnaeus Centre HEAD has built up a world-leading research environment in the new field of cognitive hearing science. The aim is to produce new knowledge that can make life easier for people with hearing impairment. The current challenge is to reveal the mechanisms behind age-related hearing loss and its link to dementia.

Communication is important for everyone. But as we get older, our hearing deteriorates making it hard to maintain speech communication. This may effect quality of life and increases the risk of social isolation, depression and dementia.

However, new knowledge of the mechanisms behind age-related hearing loss and its link to dementia can help improve diagnostic methods, as well as allow development of more efficient hearing aids and new methods of drug treatment.

We hear with our ears, but listen and understand with our brains

The brain´s roll

This video is about our research on hearing loss and deafness and the brain´s role in our hearing and how everyday life can be made easier for people with hearing loss. In sign language, ASL.

Research

Cognitive hearing science

Linnaeus centre HEAD has established cognitive hearing science as a distinct field of research. It fosters interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers in cognitive neuroscience, psychoacoustics, engineering, clinical audiology and linguistics.

We are studying the relationship between hearing, cognition and communication

Articles about our hearing research

New research throws doubt on old ideas of how hearing works

The way in which we experience music and speech differs from what has until now been believed. The new findings have been published in Science Advances, and may make it possible to design better cochlear implants.

Research results challenge a decades-old mechanism of how we hear sounds

Researchers have made several discoveries on the functioning mechanisms of the inner hair cells of the ear, which convert sounds into nerve signals. The results challenge the current picture of the hearing organ, which has prevailed for decades.

Hearing loss increases the risk of dementia

Research has established a link between the condition and problems with hearing. What can be done to prevent or slow the progress of dementia? This was one of the topics discussed at an international research conference in Linköping.

Selection of publications in Cognitive hearing science

Cover of publication ''
Josefine Andin, Emil Holmer, Schönström Krister, Mary Rudner (2021)

Cerebral Cortex , Vol.31 , s.3165-3176 Continue to DOI

Cover of publication ''
Andreea Micula, Hoi Ning. Elaine Ng, Fares El-Azm, Jerker Rönnberg (2020)

International Journal of Audiology , Vol.59 , s.792-800 Continue to DOI

Cover of publication ''
Michaela Socher, Rachel J. Ellis, Malin Wass, Björn Lyxell (2020)

Frontiers in Psychology , Vol.11 Continue to DOI

Social media

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Seminars about hearing research

Online video conference
Open seminar series

Open seminar

Seminar series arranged by the Disability research division at Linköping University.

Speaker and title to be announced in advance at the seminar series page (link below).

> To the seminar series page

CHSCOM2024

Conference CHSCOM
CHSCOM, Cognitive Hearing Science for Communication

Worldwide hearing research 

Scientists from all over the world meet every two years in Linköping to discuss the latest research in the field of Cognitive hearing science.

CHSCOM stands for Cognitive Hearing Science for Communication. The next conference will be arranged in June 2024.

Contact: Maria Hugo-Lindén

For more information visit CHSCOM's website.

Doctoral theses

Books.
Doctoral theses in Cognitive hearing science Photographer: Mercedes Rancaño Otero

From hearing aids to tinnitus and deafblindness

Theses within Cognitive Hearing Science are about everything from hearing aids and hearing tests to tinnitus and deafblindness.

> To the list of doctoral theses

Contact

Linnaeus centre HEAD forms part of the Disability Research Division