Cognitive function predicts listening effort performance during complex tasks in normally aging adults.
Jennine Harvey1, Deborah von Hapsburg2, Scott Seeman1
1Communication Sciences and Disorders, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA.
Noise & Health
|January 11, 2018
Summary
Cognitive function assessed by the Woodcock-Johnson III (WCJ-III) tests predicts listening effort during complex dual tasks. This finding holds true across different age groups, aiding speech-language pathologists.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology and audiology
- Neuroscience of aging and auditory processing
Background:
- Listening effort is a crucial aspect of auditory perception, particularly in challenging listening conditions.
- Understanding factors influencing listening effort is vital for audiological rehabilitation and effective communication strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the predictive relationship between cognitive function, measured by Woodcock-Johnson III (WCJ-III) subtests, and listening effort during dual-task scenarios.
- To determine if cognitive abilities influence performance in varying levels of auditory and visual processing tasks across adult age groups.
Main Methods:
- Two groups of adults (41-61 and 63-81 years) were assessed using WCJ-III subtests: Memory for Words, Auditory Working Memory, Visual Matching, and Decision Speed.
- Participants completed three dual-task conditions of increasing complexity, involving auditory recognition/working memory combined with visual processing in noise.
Main Results:
- Task complexity significantly impacted auditory accuracy, visual accuracy, and processing speed.
- Cognitive subtest performance on the WCJ-III reliably predicted overall performance across all dependent measures.
Conclusions:
- Listening effort is demonstrably influenced by task complexity, irrespective of participant age.
- WCJ-III performance serves as a potential predictor of listening effort, offering valuable insights for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) working with adults facing auditory challenges.
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