Applicability and outcomes of a test for binaural phase sensitivity in elderly listeners

Authors

  • Inga Holube Institute of Hearing Technology and Audiology, Jade University of Applied Sciences, D-26121 Oldenburg, Germany; Cluster of Excellence “Hearing4All”, Oldenburg, Germany
  • Theresa Nuesse Institute of Hearing Technology and Audiology, Jade University of Applied Sciences, D-26121 Oldenburg, Germany; Cluster of Excellence “Hearing4All”, Oldenburg, Germany
  • Olaf Strelcyk Sonova U.S. Corporate Services, Cincinnati, OH, USA
  • Annaeus Wiltfang Institute of Hearing Technology and Audiology, Jade University of Applied Sciences, D-26121 Oldenburg, Germany
  • Petra von Gablenz Institute of Hearing Technology and Audiology, Jade University of Applied Sciences, D-26121 Oldenburg, Germany; Cluster of Excellence “Hearing4All”, Oldenburg, Germany
  • Anne Schlueter Institute of Hearing Technology and Audiology, Jade University of Applied Sciences, D-26121 Oldenburg, Germany; Cluster of Excellence “Hearing4All”, Oldenburg, Germany

Keywords:

psychoacoustics, speech recognition, hearing impairment

Abstract

Interaural phase difference (IPD) discrimination in the binaural auditory system has been shown to be related to localization abilities and speech intelligibility in background noise. One of the tests for binaural phase sensitivity determines the highest frequency of the test tone for which an interaural phase difference of 180° is detectable (IPD-FR). This test was included in a test battery together with examination of visual and hearing abilities, balance, tactile- and motor-skills, and cognitive abilities. The IPD-FR test was conducted with an adaptive 3-AFC experiment starting with a test-tone frequency of 250 Hz. Sixty-five of 220 participants could not perform the IPD-FR task. The main predictors for inability to perform the IPD-FR task are hearing loss at 250 Hz, fluid intelligence, measurement number, and gender. A linear regression analysis revealed that the test result IPD-FR threshold is related to pure-tone thresholds at low frequencies, composite score of cognition, and composite score of tactile sensitivity, fine motor skills, and vision, as well as gender. A correlation analysis shows that the IPD-FR threshold is not related to speech recognition in non-dynamic listening conditions with speech from the front if low-frequency hearing loss is taken into account.

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Auditory Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems

Additional Files

Published

2020-04-08

How to Cite

Holube, I., Nuesse, T., Strelcyk, O., Wiltfang, A., von Gablenz, P., & Schlueter, A. (2020). Applicability and outcomes of a test for binaural phase sensitivity in elderly listeners. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research, 7, 397–404. Retrieved from https://proceedings.isaar.eu/index.php/isaarproc/article/view/2019-46

Issue

Vol. 7 (2019): Auditory Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems

Section

2019/5. Other topics in auditory and audiological research

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