Is There a Relationship between Sound Localization and Speech Processing Speed in the Elderly with Normal Hearing?

Background and Aim: Many older adults experience difficulty in speech perception in noisy environments and fast speech. Speech perception is dependent on bottom-up and top-down auditory processing information. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Interaural Time Difference (ITD)...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jafar Aghazadeh, Saeideh Mehrkian, Enayatollah Bakhshi, Talieh Zarifian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2024-08-01
Series:Auditory and Vestibular Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://avr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/avr/article/view/1325
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850200973435207680
author Jafar Aghazadeh
Saeideh Mehrkian
Enayatollah Bakhshi
Talieh Zarifian
author_facet Jafar Aghazadeh
Saeideh Mehrkian
Enayatollah Bakhshi
Talieh Zarifian
author_sort Jafar Aghazadeh
collection DOAJ
description Background and Aim: Many older adults experience difficulty in speech perception in noisy environments and fast speech. Speech perception is dependent on bottom-up and top-down auditory processing information. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Interaural Time Difference (ITD) and speech processing speed in older adults with difficulty in speech perception in noise. Methods: In this study, 36 Iranian older adults with normal hearing (23 men and 13 women) aged 65–75 years who had complaints about the difficulty with speech perception in noise, participated. The ITD test with two stimuli (high-pass and low-pass noise) was used to asess the auditory localization ability. Time-Compressed Speech Test (TCST) and reaction time test were used to measure their speech processing speed. Pearson correlation test was performed to examine the relationship between ITD and speech processing speed. Results: The auditory localization errors were more significant for ITDs with low-pass noise than high-pass noise. The results showed a negative correlation between localization errors and the TCST score at time compression ratios of 40% (p=0.005) and 60% (p=0.002). The highest correlation was observed between ITD (low-pass noise) and the TCST score at the time compression ratio of 60% in the right ear (r=–0.66). The mean ITD errors were not significantly correlated to the reaction time test score (p>0.05). Conclusion: Word recognition in the elderly declines with increasing speech rate. The findings of this study can be used in clinical practice for consultation and rehabilitation of older adults with communication difficulties.
format Article
id doaj-art-404ad115fcdc45cebc67ff66ae3da083
institution OA Journals
issn 2423-480X
language English
publishDate 2024-08-01
publisher Tehran University of Medical Sciences
record_format Article
series Auditory and Vestibular Research
spelling doaj-art-404ad115fcdc45cebc67ff66ae3da0832025-08-20T02:12:10ZengTehran University of Medical SciencesAuditory and Vestibular Research2423-480X2024-08-0134210.18502/avr.v34i2.18058Is There a Relationship between Sound Localization and Speech Processing Speed in the Elderly with Normal Hearing?Jafar Aghazadeh0Saeideh Mehrkian1Enayatollah Bakhshi2Talieh Zarifian3Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Rehabilitation, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Education Sciences and Social Welfare, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran Background and Aim: Many older adults experience difficulty in speech perception in noisy environments and fast speech. Speech perception is dependent on bottom-up and top-down auditory processing information. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Interaural Time Difference (ITD) and speech processing speed in older adults with difficulty in speech perception in noise. Methods: In this study, 36 Iranian older adults with normal hearing (23 men and 13 women) aged 65–75 years who had complaints about the difficulty with speech perception in noise, participated. The ITD test with two stimuli (high-pass and low-pass noise) was used to asess the auditory localization ability. Time-Compressed Speech Test (TCST) and reaction time test were used to measure their speech processing speed. Pearson correlation test was performed to examine the relationship between ITD and speech processing speed. Results: The auditory localization errors were more significant for ITDs with low-pass noise than high-pass noise. The results showed a negative correlation between localization errors and the TCST score at time compression ratios of 40% (p=0.005) and 60% (p=0.002). The highest correlation was observed between ITD (low-pass noise) and the TCST score at the time compression ratio of 60% in the right ear (r=–0.66). The mean ITD errors were not significantly correlated to the reaction time test score (p>0.05). Conclusion: Word recognition in the elderly declines with increasing speech rate. The findings of this study can be used in clinical practice for consultation and rehabilitation of older adults with communication difficulties. https://avr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/avr/article/view/1325Sound localizationspeed processingspeech perceptionelderly
spellingShingle Jafar Aghazadeh
Saeideh Mehrkian
Enayatollah Bakhshi
Talieh Zarifian
Is There a Relationship between Sound Localization and Speech Processing Speed in the Elderly with Normal Hearing?
Auditory and Vestibular Research
Sound localization
speed processing
speech perception
elderly
title Is There a Relationship between Sound Localization and Speech Processing Speed in the Elderly with Normal Hearing?
title_full Is There a Relationship between Sound Localization and Speech Processing Speed in the Elderly with Normal Hearing?
title_fullStr Is There a Relationship between Sound Localization and Speech Processing Speed in the Elderly with Normal Hearing?
title_full_unstemmed Is There a Relationship between Sound Localization and Speech Processing Speed in the Elderly with Normal Hearing?
title_short Is There a Relationship between Sound Localization and Speech Processing Speed in the Elderly with Normal Hearing?
title_sort is there a relationship between sound localization and speech processing speed in the elderly with normal hearing
topic Sound localization
speed processing
speech perception
elderly
url https://avr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/avr/article/view/1325
work_keys_str_mv AT jafaraghazadeh istherearelationshipbetweensoundlocalizationandspeechprocessingspeedintheelderlywithnormalhearing
AT saeidehmehrkian istherearelationshipbetweensoundlocalizationandspeechprocessingspeedintheelderlywithnormalhearing
AT enayatollahbakhshi istherearelationshipbetweensoundlocalizationandspeechprocessingspeedintheelderlywithnormalhearing
AT taliehzarifian istherearelationshipbetweensoundlocalizationandspeechprocessingspeedintheelderlywithnormalhearing