Comparison of Single-Task versus Dual-Task for Listening Effort

Area of Science:

• Auditory Perception
• Cognitive Psychology
• Speech Communication

Background:

• Understanding speech in noise requires significant listener attention.
• The level of listening effort can depend on the specific task and auditory material.
• Quantifying listening effort is crucial for assessing communication effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate listener effort using recognition scores and response times.
• To investigate the influence of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) on listening effort.
• To determine the task dependency of listening effort in auditory communication.

Main Methods:

• Forty-eight young adults with normal hearing were recruited.
• Speech recognition (single-task) and arithmetic (dual-task) were performed under varying SNRs (0 to -12 dB) and quiet conditions.
• Performance was measured by percent correct scores and response times.

Main Results:

• Both speech and arithmetic scores declined with increasing noise levels.
• Response time for speech recognition decreased with noise, while arithmetic response time increased.
• A negative correlation between errors and response time was found for speech recognition, contrasting with a positive correlation for arithmetic.

Conclusions:

• Listening effort differs significantly between single-task (speech recognition) and dual-task (speech with arithmetic) scenarios.
• Dual-task conditions impose a greater listening effort on individuals.
• Task type is a critical factor influencing the cognitive load associated with auditory comprehension.