The Healthy Hearing Lab, run by Dr. Sara K. Mamo, is a research lab at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
We are interested in learning more about the communication needs and capabilities of older adults, with a focus on how to support healthy social engagement and aging despite challenges like hearing loss and age-related mental changes
As we age, understanding speech in noisy environments becomes increasingly challenging. We want to explore how mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early-stage dementia may further affect communication abilities, particularly in social settings.
Gaining a deeper understanding of how age-related cognitive changes impact social engagement will allow us to design more effective hearing loss rehabilitation programs that can help older adults stay socially connected, maintain strong relationships, and enjoy a better quality of life as they age.