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Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
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Listening Effort for Soft Speech in Quiet.
Hendrik Husstedt1, Jennifer Schmidt1,2, Luca Wiederschein1
1German Institute of Hearing Aids, Lübeck, Germany.
Trends in Hearing
|August 19, 2025
Summary
Effortless listening requires speech to be significantly louder than the hearing threshold. This study found that soft speech in quiet demands considerable listening effort, highlighting a previously overlooked threshold for comfortable hearing.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Speech Perception
- Psychoacoustics
Background:
- Listening effort is a key measure of hearing performance, alongside speech intelligibility.
- Previous research primarily assessed listening effort in noisy conditions.
- Understanding effort for soft speech in quiet is crucial for hearing aid fitting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate listening effort for soft speech in quiet environments.
- To determine the speech level required for effortless listening.
- To explore the role of internal noise and cognitive factors in listening effort.
Main Methods:
- Speech intelligibility testing (OLSA) and adaptive listening effort scaling (ACALES) were used.
- Pupillometry was employed as a physiological measure of listening effort.
- Two experiments were conducted: one in quiet and a follow-up with simulated hearing loss.
Main Results:
- Listening effort decreased as speech level increased, with "no effort" reported at 40 dB SPL.
- A significant difference (approx. 20.6 dB SPL) was found between "extreme effort" and "no effort" levels.
- Results suggest cognitive processes, not just internal noise, influence listening effort in quiet.
Conclusions:
- Speech must be presented well above the speech recognition threshold for effortless listening.
- A threshold for effortless listening in quiet environments has been identified.
- Future research should prioritize this threshold, especially for individuals with hearing impairments and soft speech.
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