Auditory Training to Improve Speech Perception and Self-Efficacy in Aging Adults

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Audiology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Difficulty understanding speech is common in aging adults, even without hearing loss.
• Age-related decline in auditory temporal processing (ATP) is linked to speech perception challenges.
• Previous correlational studies suggest a link, but causal evidence is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal effect of spatial-temporal ATP training (temporal order judgment [TOJ]) on speech perception in older adults.
• To determine if improvements in speech perception are associated with enhanced self-efficacy.
• To explore the specificity of ATP training effects on auditory skills.

Main Methods:

• Eighty-two participants (aged 60-83) were randomly assigned to ATP (TOJ) training, non-ATP (intensity discrimination) training, or a no-training control group.
• Training interventions were administered over 14 days.
• Speech perception and self-efficacy were assessed before and after the training period.

Main Results:

• TOJ training significantly improved speech perception across all measures.
• Improved speech perception following TOJ training was accompanied by a significant increase in self-efficacy.
• Neither non-ATP training nor the control group showed improvements in speech perception or self-efficacy.

Conclusions:

• ATP training, specifically TOJ, causally enhances speech perception in aging adults.
• The benefits of TOJ training on speech perception are specific and do not generalize to other auditory tasks like intensity discrimination.
• Computer-based auditory training targeting temporal processing offers a promising clinical approach to improve speech perception and self-efficacy in older adults.