Tuesday, 15 September 2020
Experts at the 糖心原创 are looking for volunteers to take part in a study to help develop biological measures of stress relating to hearing difficulties such as hearing loss, deafness, tinnitus and hyperacusis.
People with hearing difficulties may face obstacles that make daily life more stressful, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Veronica Colley is a member of the University’s Patient and Public Involvement Steering group and has severe hearing loss. She says: “I wish someone could measure my stress level increase when I see someone wearing a face mask, or asks me to take part in a Zoom meeting. As a lip reader both these situations are so difficult and scary.”
To help better understand this issue, experts from the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre at the University are launching the Aura study, which will look at chronic stress levels over a period of time.
The study has two parts - a short survey, which will ask participants about their lifestyle, health, well-being, anxiety, depression and stress levels; and a hair donation.
The team will measure the amount of stress participants are feeling by measuring the cortisol levels in the hair, at 0, three and six month intervals. As cortisol is thought to be a biomarker of stress, these measurements should tell them the story of their stress levels over the last few months.
This will enable the experts to understand how people with hearing difficulties are affected by the chronic stress they experience in their life and whether hair cortisol is a good indicator of the stress that they experience.
The more people recruited for the study – the stronger the results will be.
Dr Sally Thornton, co-ordinator of the study, says: “The Aura study will help us to understand the type of difficulties people face and to understand more about hair cortisol as a biomarker for stress in people who have problems with their hearing. We know people with hearing difficulties do experience more stress but we still don't fully know why this is the case.
“We will the look to see if there is an association with biomarker levels and all the things that we are asking them in the survey; lifestyle factors, their hearing and health, how they are feeling, their levels of stress, anxiety, depression and how the pandemic has had an impact on their life. We will also look at people without hearing difficulties and see if they experience the similar types and levels of stress and if their cortisol levels are associated with any of the factors recorded in the survey.”
More information is available at
Or to join the study visit- :
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More information is available from Dr Sally Thornton at sally.thornton@nottingham.ac.uk
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
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As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.