Suprathreshold auditory processing deficits in noise: Effects of hearing loss and age.

Suprathreshold auditory processing deficits in noise: Effects of hearing loss and age.
Hear Res. 2015 Oct 14;
Authors: Kortlang S, Mauermann M, Ewert SD
Abstract
People with sensorineural hearing loss generally suffer from a reduced ability to understand speech in complex acoustic listening situations, particularly when background noise is present. In addition to the loss of audibility, a mixture of suprathreshold processing deficits is possibly involved, like altered basilar membrane compression and related changes, as well as a reduced ability of temporal coding. A series of 6 monaural psychoacoustic experiments at 0.5, 2, and 6 kHz was conducted with 18 subjects, divided equally into groups of young normalhearing, older normal-hearing and older hearing-impaired listeners, aiming at disentangling the effects of age and hearing loss on psychoacoustic performance in noise. Random frequency modulation detection thresholds (RFMDTs) with a low-rate modulator in wide-band noise, and discrimination of a phase-jittered Schroeder-phase from a random-phase harmonic tone complex are suggested to characterize the individual ability of temporal processing. The outcome was compared to thresholds of pure tones and narrow-band noise, categorical loudness growth, auditory filter bandwidth, and tone-in-noise detection thresholds. At 500 Hz, results suggest a contribution of temporal fine structure (TFS) to pure-tones signal detection. Significant co...

Source: Hearing Research - October 14, 2015 Category: Audiology Authors: Kortlang S, Mauermann M, Ewert SD Tags: Hear Res Source Type: research