About
Eriksholm Research Centre recently had the pleasure of hosting visiting PhD student Joseph Rovetti, who brought his expertise in psychology and cognitive neuroscience to the ALFi project ALFi project (Assessment of Listening-related Fatigue in Daily Life).
From Canada to Denmark
Joseph is currently pursuing his PhD at the University of Western Ontario (UWO) under the supervision of Dr. Ingrid Johnsrude, Chair of the Department of Psychology at UWO and Senior Principal Scientist at Eriksholm. His research focuses on how cognitive abilities influence speech perception in challenging environments, addressing questions such as: What makes some people better at understanding speech in noise? and How do cognitive abilities affect listening fatigue?
The ALFi Project
While at Eriksholm, Joseph contributed to the ALFi project, which explores the causes and impacts of listening effort and fatigue in real-world settings for people with hearing impairment. Collaborating with postdoctoral researchers Alina Schulte and Cora Caron, Joseph helped with designing cognitive tasks for hearing impaired test participants. These tasks aim to predict listening fatigue more accurately by examining how cognitive abilities, such as attention, influence speech processing and effort.
Incorporating cognition into the ALFi project adds a vital layer to understanding listening fatigue. By studying cognitive factors, researchers can better explain why some individuals experience greater or lesser fatigue which again paves the way for tailored solutions, such as cognitive-based hearing aid features. As Joseph explains:
“ALFi is investigating how effort might lead to greater listening fatigue. I’m curious about the role cognition plays in that. For example, people with higher cognitive abilities might not experience fatigue to the same extent because difficult listening situations don’t feel as effortful for them. That’s something I would like to explore further.”
Breaking new ground in cognitive research
Joseph’s curiosity about cognition has shaped his academic journey from the start. His bachelor’s thesis study was the first to demonstrate that functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) could be used to measure listening effort in hearing aid users, highlighting its compatibility with hearing aids. In his first ever research role, Joseph also investigated how choir singing might enhance auditory processing in older adults with hearing loss, blending his passion for music with research that addresses practical challenges.
At Eriksholm, we greatly appreciate Joseph’s commitment to tackling real-world issues, which has been evident throughout his visit, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration as the ALFi project progresses!
Read more about the ALFi project here.
Explore all our ongoing research projects here.
