Factors Influencing Speech Perception in Noise, and Auditory and Cognitive Training in the Elderly (review) / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

The elderly are more likely to have difficulty in communicating in noise, regardless of hearing loss. The decline of speech perception ability in noise is the main manifestation of the decline of central auditory processing ability. Hearing and cognition are significantly correlated with central auditory processing. The mechanisms of interaction among them are common cause, reduction-compensation hypothesis, information degradation hypothesis, sensory deprivation hypothesis and cognitive load hypothesis. In short, central auditory processing is clearly related with cognition, which decreases with age. The sensory input of degradation (hearing loss or communication in noise) brings more loads to the cognitive system, occupies more cognitive resources and affects the immediate processing of cognition. Over time, chronic sensory deprivation causes an overall decline in cognitive ability. Cognitive decline in turn affects the compensatory effect on perception from top to down, thereby affecting central auditory processing ability. After confirming the mutual relations between them, the effects of auditory and cognitive training on speech resolution in noise were explored. A number of studies have confirmed that the hearing training programs can improve central auditory processing and cognitive function in patients with hearing loss, and cognitive training can be trained part of the cognitive domain (memory) to improve cognition and auditory perception.