Age-Related Differences in EEG-Based Speech Reception Threshold Estimation Using Scalp and Ear-EEG.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Audiology
• Signal Processing

Background:

• Speech reception threshold (SRT) estimation via electroencephalography (EEG), termed SRT_neuro, is feasible in younger adults.
• Hearing aid use increases with age, necessitating age-appropriate hearing assessment tools.
• Age-related neural changes may influence SRT_neuro estimation accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate age-related changes in the temporal response function (TRF).
• Assess the feasibility and precision of SRT_neuro estimation in older adults.
• Compare SRT_neuro estimation between younger and older normal-hearing participants.

Main Methods:

• Recorded EEG from 20 younger and 22 older normal-hearing participants listening to speech in noise.
• Utilized a linear decoder to reconstruct the speech envelope from EEG signals.
• Calculated Pearson's correlation between reconstructed and stimulus envelopes to estimate SRT_neuro.

Main Results:

• SRT_neuro was estimated with similar precision in both younger and older adults.
• Older adults exhibited higher speech envelope reconstruction accuracy and TRF amplitudes.
• In-ear and scalp EEG electrodes yielded comparable SRT_neuro estimation precision across age groups.

Conclusions:

• The SRT_neuro estimation method is robust and effective in older individuals.
• This brainwave-based approach holds potential for advancing hearing aid technology for age-related hearing loss.
• Findings support the use of SRT_neuro for continuous adaptation of noise-reduction algorithms in hearing aids.