The relationship between temporal and spectral processing of sound and self-reported hearing difficulty in older adults with sensori-neural hearing loss

Authors

  • Elvira Perez National Biomedical Research Unit in Hearing, University of Nottingham, Ropewalk House, 113 The Ropewalk, Nottingham, NG1 5DU, UK
  • Abby Mccormack National Biomedical Research Unit in Hearing, University of Nottingham, Ropewalk House, 113 The Ropewalk, Nottingham, NG1 5DU, UK
  • Barrie A. Edmonds National Biomedical Research Unit in Hearing, University of Nottingham, Ropewalk House, 113 The Ropewalk, Nottingham, NG1 5DU, UK

Abstract

Impairments to the temporal and spectral processing of sound contribute to difficulties in understanding speech, and likely contribute to the large variability in hearing aid outcomes of older adults with sensori-neural hearing loss (SNHL). We measured sensitivity to temporal fine structure (TFS), gap detection thresholds, and masked thresholds for frequency resolution in 80 older adults with bilateral symmetrical SNHL. Performance on the three psychoacoustic tests was not strongly correlated, and estimates of temporal and frequency resolution were not associated with patient self reports of hearing difficulty. However, listeners with good sensitivity to TFS were found to experience significantly greater confidence in their abilities on the spatial hearing and sound quality self- report scenarios than those listeners with poor sensitivity to TFS. These results indicate that the structures and mechanisms underlying temporal and spectral processing are independent, and that sensitivity to TFS is likely to contribute to a patient’s experience of his/her hearing difficulties.

References

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Additional Files

Published

2011-12-15

How to Cite

Perez, E., Mccormack, A., & Edmonds, B. A. (2011). The relationship between temporal and spectral processing of sound and self-reported hearing difficulty in older adults with sensori-neural hearing loss. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research, 3, 183–190. Retrieved from https://proceedings.isaar.eu/index.php/isaarproc/article/view/2011-22

Issue

Vol. 3 (2011): Speech Perception and Auditory Disorders

Section

2011/1. Indicators of hearing impairment and measures of speech perception

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