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Auditive and cognitive factors in speech perception by elderly listeners
1ENT Department, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Acta Oto-Laryngologica. Supplementum
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Speech perception decline in older adults stems from both hearing loss and cognitive factors like memory and processing speed. These two components independently impact speech understanding, with hearing loss being the larger contributor.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Understanding speech is challenging for the elderly.
- Distinguishing between auditory and cognitive factors in speech perception is crucial for diagnosis and rehabilitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the auditive and cognitive factors contributing to speech perception difficulties in the elderly.
- To determine the relative contributions of these factors and their relationship with age.
Main Methods:
- Developed a comprehensive test battery assessing auditory (sensitivity, frequency selectivity, temporal resolution), cognitive (memory, processing speed, intellectual abilities), and speech perception abilities.
- Administered the battery to 72 elderly participants aged 60-93.
Main Results:
- Speech perception decline in the elderly has two independent components: a major one linked to high-frequency hearing loss (approx. two-thirds of variance) and a smaller one related to cognitive factors like reduced memory and processing speed (approx. one-third of variance).
- Both components correlate with age, but their balance remains consistent across the age range studied.
Conclusions:
- Speech perception impairment in older adults is multifactorial, involving both sensory (auditory) and cognitive decline.
- While age impacts both, the relative contribution of hearing and cognitive function to speech perception remains stable with advancing age.