Health & Wellness - UMN Listen Lab: "Is That All?" Study

Speech Language Hearing Sciences Research Study

 

Program Overview:

  • The University of Minnesota Listen Lab, housed within the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, is dedicated to advancing our understanding of speech communication and the factors that make listening difficult. The lab’s research aims to improve clinical assessment, rehabilitation, and quality of life for individuals with hearing loss.
  • This study, “Is That All?”, examines how adults process spoken language, including how listeners recognize the end of a spoken list and how they prepare to hear sentences that may be easy or difficult to understand. sites.google.com/umn.edu/listen-lab/home

Volunteer Activities:

Eligible volunteers will participate in a research study conducted in the Listen Lab. During a single lab visit, participants will:

  • Complete a brief hearing screening
  • Listen to spoken sentences and repeat what they hear
  • Respond using a simple computer interface
  • Sit comfortably while a non-invasive eye tracker measures eye position and pupil size (similar to equipment used at an eye exam)
  • Be compensated at $15/hour for your time

Both study components are completed in one session. Frequent breaks are provided.

Time Commitment:

  • One lab visit, lasting no more than two hours
  • Sessions scheduled weekdays between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM
  • Exact session time determined based on participant availability

Location:
Shevlin Hall, UMN Twin Cities Campus
164 Pillsbury Dr. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Volunteer Eligibility:

Volunteers must:

  • Be 50–80 years of age
  • Be a native speaker of American English
  • Have no known significant hearing loss (screening provided)
  • Be cognitively normal (a brief cognitive assessment may be administered)

While current recruitment focuses on individuals with typical hearing, individuals who use cochlear implants are also encouraged to inquire about future study opportunities.

What to wear:

  • Please dress for comfort. The sound booth can get warm.

 

Safety information:

  • There are no significant risks of these research studies. Minor risks include tiredness and eye fatigue from viewing a computer screen. Frequent, untimed breaks will be provided throughout the session to maintain comfort.

Parking & Transportation:

  • Free parking provided
  • Parking permits available near the building when possible
  • Parking validation provided for nearby campus garages when needed

To register, contact the Listen Lab Coorindator:

I would like to volunteer

Fill in an application

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