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Speech-reception threshold for sentences as a function of age and noise level
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|November 1, 1979
Summary
Hearing loss for speech (SHL) worsens with age, especially in noisy environments. Elderly individuals require significantly lower noise levels for clear speech comprehension compared to younger people.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Speech Perception
- Gerontology
Background:
- Age-related hearing loss impacts speech understanding.
- Distinguishing between attenuation and distortion components of hearing loss is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate monaural speech-reception thresholds (SRT) in quiet and noise across different age groups.
- To analyze age-related changes in hearing loss for speech (SHL) using a dual-component model.
Main Methods:
- Tested 140 males and 72 females across various age decades (20-96 years).
- Measured SRT in quiet and at four noise levels (22.2-67.5 dBA).
- Applied a model interpreting SHL as attenuation (A) and distortion (D) components.
Main Results:
- Both hearing loss in quiet (SHLA+D) and in noise (SHLD) increase after age 50.
- At age 85, typical SHLA+D is 30 dB and SHLD is 6 dB.
- Significant individual variability exists in understanding speech in noise for similar SHLA+D.
Conclusions:
- Elderly hearing impairment significantly affects speech comprehension in noisy settings.
- Acceptable noise levels for older adults should be 5-10 dB lower than for normal-hearing individuals.
- The distortion component of hearing loss is a key factor in reduced speech intelligibility in noise.