Language learning and brain activity in children with hearing loss
The purpose of this study is to investigate how hearing loss affects syntactic rule learning. We measure behavioral and neural responses during rule learning, assess the contribution of domain-general executive functions, and examine whether different levels of attention during rule exposure influence learning success. The results will deepen our understanding of how auditory deprivation shapes language learning. Ultimately, this research aims to lay the groundwork for evidence-based language interventions that help reduce the language gap between children with hearing loss and their hearing peers.
We are looking for children with normal hearing or hearing loss between 6 and 9 years of age. As a thank-you for participating, families will receive €50, a summary of the study findings, and a gift for their child. If you want to know more and participate, click here.
This project is funded by La Caixa Foundation (Junior Leader) and the Spanish Ministry of Science (Ramón y Cajal Fund).
Music, language learning, and listening effort
The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of music on learning and remembering stories as compared to speech. We are interested in whether music requires more listening effort than speech and whether this effect is different for musicians. Understanding the effects of music on language learning can be used to improve clinical and educational practices in people with communication difficulties through the use of music.
We are looking for typical hearing adults with or without music experience. If you want to know more and participate, please contact us.
Music perception through a cochlear implant
The purpose of this study is to approximate the sound of a cochlear implant when perceiving music. To do so, participants with a unilateral cochlear implant listen to music excerpts directly to their cochlear implant and modified melodies matching their perception in the other ear. The modified melodies are created by filtering the frequency parameters of music sounds using a digital audio workstation. This methodology offers an easy-to-use framework for examining cochlear implant sound quality and can inform future work aimed at characterizing and improving sound quality for signals beyond speech.
We are looking for adults who use one cochlear implant and have either typical hearing or a hearing aid in the other ear. If you want to know more and participate, please contact us.
Past Studies
2023-2025: Language learning and brain activity in children with hearing loss, funded by La Caixa Foundation, Junior Leader (PI: de Diego-Lázaro).
2024-2025: Cognitive engagement, listening effort and fatigue in real-world listening environments, funded by the University of Wisconsin-Madison (PI: Benítez-Barrera).
2022-2025: Audiovisual integration and word learning in monolingual and bilingual children with hearing Loss, funded by the BBVA Foundation, Beca Leonardo, and by the Language Learning Journal, Early Career Grant (PI: de Diego-Lázaro).
2020-2022: The effects of a language intervention for bilingual children with hearing loss: Clinical and educational outcomes, funded by Midwestern University (PI: de Diego-Lázaro).
2020-2022: Spaced-word retrieval as a vocabulary teaching strategy for children with hearing loss, funded by the Society for Research in Child Language Development (SRCD), Early Career Scholar Small Grant (PI: de Diego-Lázaro).
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