Effects of aging on time-gated isolated word-recognition performance

This investigation was designed to study real-time isolated monosyllabic word-recognition performance and the feasibility of applying time-gated NU-6 word-recognition test materials for real-time assessment of older listeners. Methods and materials developed in a previous investigation were used to obtain time-gated performance measures from 37 older listeners (mean age = 69 years). The older listener performance measures were compared with extant data from 20 normally hearing young adult listeners (mean age = 22 years). Specifically, listener confidence and accuracy by gate as well as listener isolation point, confidence at the isolation point, and total acceptance point measures were evaluated. The results show that major events in the real-time understanding process occur at a slower pace among older listeners. The data indicate that the time-gating method has excellent potential for future research among elderly listeners.