Interactions of brain health, hearing, and language across the lifespan

The field of cognitive neuroscience is increasingly focused on understanding how brain health, hearing, and language processes interact across the human lifespan. Although communication abilities are vital for personal, educational, and social development, the neural mechanisms linking auditory and linguistic systems to cognitive health remain only partially elucidated. Key debates center on how individuals adapt to changes in hearing acuity, language capacity, and neural function from infancy to old age, as well as how these factors mediate risks for communication disorders and cognitive decline. Recent studies highlight the impact of hearing status, neurodevelopmental trajectories, and sensory challenges on language acquisition and processing, but important questions remain regarding the shared and distinct pathways that underpin resilient communication.Advances in human neuroscience, particularly through neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and computational modeling, have begun to shed light on how the brain encodes, processes, and compensates for speech and language in both typical and atypical development. However, much remains to be understood about how modifiable experiences, such as bilingualism, music training, and education, interact with genetic and environmental risks to influence brain plasticity and adaptive communication strategies. Moreover, there is a pressing need to link neural markers of processing effort and prediction to real-world outcomes, such as academic achievement, psychosocial well-being, and healthy aging. Current research is addressing these gaps with longitudinal, transferrable approaches, but integrative frameworks that connect laboratory and real-world contexts remain sparse.This Research Topic aims to deepen our understanding of the neural foundations supporting the dynamic relationships between hearing, language, and brain health across the lifespan. The goal is to clarify how these systems co-develop and adapt, identify mechanisms of resilience and vulnerability, and inform interventions that promote effective communication in diverse populations, especially in the context of hearing loss, language disorders, and cognitive aging. Researchers are encouraged to address questions regarding how sensory and language systems interact, what factors support neural and behavioral adaptation, and how neuroscience findings can be translated into clinical and educational practice.To gather further insights in exploring the shared and unique interactions between auditory, linguistic, and cognitive systems across the lifespan, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Neural encoding and representation of speech and language in diverse hearing populations- Effects of hearing loss, tinnitus, and cochlear implants on language and cognition- Brain markers of listening effort, plasticity, and real-world communicative outcomes- Interactions between auditory processing and developmental or acquired language disorders- Modifiable factors influencing brain resilience and language networks (e.g., bilingualism, music, cognitive training)- Lifespan approaches: longitudinal, translational, and intervention-based research- Links between communication, mental health, education, and quality of life Topic editors: Daniela Gil, HELEN GRECH, Melissa Annette Redford Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/87463/interactions-of-brain-health-hearing-and-language-across-the-lifespan