Differences in Auditory Perception Between Young and Older Adults When Controlling for Differences in Hearing Loss
Jennifer J Lentz1, Larry E Humes1, Gary R Kidd1
1Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, 1771Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
Trends in Hearing
|January 6, 2022
Summary
Older adults show better temporal processing in auditory perception, but hearing loss and reduced working memory (WM) significantly impact performance on many auditory tasks.
Area of Science:
- Auditory perception
- Psychoacoustics
- Cognitive aging
Background:
- Auditory perceptual skills can decline with age.
- Hearing loss and working memory (WM) are known factors affecting auditory function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related changes in auditory perceptual skills.
- To determine the influence of hearing loss and WM on these age effects.
Main Methods:
- 155 adults (34 young, 121 older) completed WM and hearing assessments.
- Seven psychoacoustic tasks were used to measure auditory skills like modulation detection and stream segregation.
- Principal-components analysis (PCA) and general linear models were applied to analyze the data.
Main Results:
- Older adults performed better on temporal processing tasks when hearing loss and WM were controlled.
- Hearing loss negatively impacted performance on approximately half the tasks.
- Declines in WM accounted for poorer performance on most psychoacoustic components.
Conclusions:
- Age-related auditory skill differences must consider cognitive factors.
- Hearing loss and cognitive decline significantly impair auditory perceptual abilities in older adults.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Auditory Perception
653
The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the...
653
01:01Perception of Sound Waves
4.8K
The human ear is not equally sensitive to all frequencies in the audible range. It may perceive sound waves with the same pressure but different frequencies as having different loudness. Moreover, the perception of sound waves depends on the health of an individual's ears, which decays with age. The health of one's ears may also be affected by regular exposure to loud noises.
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same...
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same...
4.8K
01:25Factors Affecting Perception
2.0K
Perception is influenced by perceptual set, context, motivation, and emotion. Perceptual set, or perceptual expectancy, refers to the tendency to perceive things in a particular way, influenced by previous experiences and expectations. This phenomenon affects the interpretation of stimuli, creating a set of mental tendencies and assumptions that impact sensory perceptions of sound, taste, touch, and sight.
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...
2.0K
01:31Hearing
53.7K
When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.
53.7K
01:21Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location
492
The human brain perceives pitch through two primary mechanisms reflected in place theory and frequency theory. Each mechanism describes how sound waves are interpreted as specific pitches by the brain, offering insights into the intricate processes of auditory perception.
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by...
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by...
492
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
360
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
360