scholarly journals Reading Behind the Lines: The Factors Affecting the Text Reception Threshold in Hearing Aid Users

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 762-775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana A. Zekveld ◽  
Marieke Pronk ◽  
Henrik Danielsson ◽  
Jerker Rönnberg
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Speech Perception ◽  
Prediction Model ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Rich Data

Purpose The visual Text Reception Threshold (TRT) test (Zekveld et al., 2007) has been designed to assess modality-general factors relevant for speech perception in noise. In the last decade, the test has been adopted in audiology labs worldwide. The 1st aim of this study was to examine which factors best predict interindividual differences in the TRT. Second, we aimed to assess the relationships between the TRT and the speech reception thresholds (SRTs) estimated in various conditions. Method First, we reviewed studies reporting relationships between the TRT and the auditory and/or cognitive factors and formulated specific hypotheses regarding the TRT predictors. These hypotheses were tested using a prediction model applied to a rich data set of 180 hearing aid users. In separate association models, we tested the relationships between the TRT and the various SRTs and subjective hearing difficulties, while taking into account potential confounding variables. Results The results of the prediction model indicate that the TRT is predicted by the ability to fill in missing words in incomplete sentences, by lexical access speed, and by working memory capacity. Furthermore, in line with previous studies, a moderate association between higher age, poorer pure-tone hearing acuity, and poorer TRTs was observed. Better TRTs were associated with better SRTs for the correct perception of 50% of Hagerman matrix sentences in a 4-talker babble, as well as with better subjective ratings of speech perception. Age and pure-tone hearing thresholds significantly confounded these associations. The associations of the TRT with SRTs estimated in other conditions and with subjective qualities of hearing were not statistically significant when adjusting for age and pure-tone average. Conclusions We conclude that the abilities tapped into by the TRT test include processes relevant for speeded lexical decision making when completing partly masked sentences and that these processes require working memory capacity. Furthermore, the TRT is associated with the SRT of hearing aid users as estimated in a challenging condition that includes informational masking and with experienced difficulties with speech perception in daily-life conditions. The current results underline the value of using the TRT test in studies involving speech perception and aid in the interpretation of findings acquired using the test.

scholarly journals Dynamic Relation Between Working Memory Capacity and Speech Recognition in Noise During the First 6 Months of Hearing Aid Use

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 233121651455868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine H. N. Ng ◽  
Elisabet Classon ◽  
Birgitta Larsby ◽  
Stig Arlinger ◽  
Thomas Lunner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Dynamic Relation ◽  
Hearing Aid Use ◽  
Speech Recognition In Noise

scholarly journals Impact of tDCS on working memory training is enhanced by strategy instructions in individuals with low working memory capacity

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Assecondi ◽  
Rong Hu ◽  
Gail Eskes ◽  
Xiaoping Pan ◽  
Jin Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Strategy Development ◽  
Memory Training ◽  
Improve Working ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Non Invasive

AbstractInterventions to improve working memory, e.g. by combining task rehearsal and non-invasive brain stimulation, are gaining popularity. Many factors, however, affect the outcome of these interventions. We hypothesize that working memory capacity at baseline predicts how an individual performs on a working memory task, by setting limits on the benefit derived from tDCS when combined with strategy instructions; specifically, we hypothesize that individuals with low capacity will benefit the most. Eighty-four participants underwent two sessions of an adaptive working memory task (n-back) on two consecutive days. Participants were split into four independent groups (SHAM vs ACTIVE stimulation and STRATEGY vs no STRATEGY instructions). For the purpose of analysis, individuals were divided based on their baseline working memory capacity. Results support our prediction that the combination of tDCS and strategy instructions is particularly beneficial in low capacity individuals. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of factors affecting the outcome of tDCS when used in conjunction with cognitive training to improve working memory. Moreover, our results have implications for training regimens, e.g., by designing interventions predicated on baseline cognitive abilities, or focusing on strategy development for specific attentional skills.

scholarly journals Depth-Bounded Statistical PCFG Induction as a Model of Human Grammar Acquisition

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 181-216
Author(s):  
Lifeng Jin ◽  
Lane Schwartz ◽  
Finale Doshi-Velez ◽  
Timothy Miller ◽  
William Schuler
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Adult Learners ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Evaluation Data ◽  
Grammar Acquisition ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Center Embedding ◽  
Induction Model

Abstract This article describes a simple PCFG induction model with a fixed category domain that predicts a large majority of attested constituent boundaries, and predicts labels consistent with nearly half of attested constituent labels on a standard evaluation data set of child-directed speech. The article then explores the idea that the difference between simple grammars exhibited by child learners and fully recursive grammars exhibited by adult learners may be an effect of increasing working memory capacity, where the shallow grammars are constrained images of the recursive grammars. An implementation of these memory bounds as limits on center embedding in a depth-specific transform of a recursive grammar yields a significant improvement over an equivalent but unbounded baseline, suggesting that this arrangement may indeed confer a learning advantage.

scholarly journals Interacting effects of frontal lobe neuroanatomy and working memory capacity to older listeners’ speech recognition in noise

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Giroud ◽  
Matthias Keller ◽  
Martin Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Frontal Lobe ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Speech In Noise ◽  
Age Related

AbstractMany older adults are struggling with understanding spoken language, particularly when background noise interferes with comprehension. In the present study, we investigated a potential interaction between two well-known factors associated with greater speech-in-noise (SiN) reception thresholds in older adults, namely a) lower working memory capacity and b) age-related structural decline of frontal lobe regions.In a sample of older adults (N=25) and younger controls (N=13) with normal pure-tone thresholds, SiN reception thresholds and working memory capacity were assessed. Furthermore, T1-weighted structural MR-images were recorded to analyze neuroanatomical traits (i.e., cortical thickness (CT) and cortical surface area (CSA)) of the cortex.As expected, the older group showed greater SiN reception thresholds compared to the younger group. We also found consistent age-related atrophy (i.e., lower CT) in brain regions associated with SiN recognition namely the superior temporal lobe bilaterally, the right inferior frontal and precentral gyrus, as well as the left superior frontal gyrus. Those older participants with greater atrophy in these brain regions also showed greater SiN reception thresholds. Interestingly, the association between CT in the left superior frontal gyrus and SiN reception thresholds was moderated by individual working memory capacity. Older adults with greater working memory capacity benefitted more strongly from thicker frontal lobe regions when it comes to improve SiN recognition.Overall, our results fit well into the literature showing that age-related structural decline in auditory- and cognition-related brain areas is associated with greater SiN reception thresholds in older adults. However, we highlight that this association changes as a function of individual working memory capacity. We therefore believe that future interventions to improve SiN recognition in older adults should take into account the role of the frontal lobe as well as individual working memory capacity.HighlightsSpeech-in-noise (SiN) reception thresholds are significantly increased with higher age, independently of pure-tone hearing lossGreater SiN reception thresholds are associated with cortical thinning in several auditory-, linguistic-, and cognitive-related brain areas, irrespective of pure-tone hearing lossGreater cortical thinning in the left superior frontal lobe is detrimental for SiN recognition in older, but not younger adultsOlder adults with greater working memory capacity benefit more strongly from structural integrity of left superior frontal lobe for SiN recognition

scholarly journals The relationship between working memory capacity and temporal and dichotic auditory processing in teachers

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeideh Mehrkian ◽  
Zahra Mozaffari ◽  
Enayatollah Bakhshi
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Speech Perception ◽  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Case Group ◽  
Speech Perception In Noise

Background and Aim: Because speech percep­tion is disturbed in people who are exposed to noise, this study aimed to investigate the effect of work environment noise on working memory capacity, temporal, and dichotic auditory proce­ssing and relationship between them in elemen­tary school teachers. Methods: Fifty-six female aged 30−50 years were enrolled in our study case and control groups. A total of 28 teachers with normal hearing and poor speech perception in noise were in the case group, and 28 women were controls with normal hearing and good scores in speech perception in noise who did not work in a noisy environment. Working memory tests, dichotic digit test (DDT) and gap-detection test (GDT) were performed for both groups. The mean score of each test was obtained from the two groups and the results were analyzed. Results: Comparison of means between the two groups in DDT, GDT, and working memory capacity test showed that the scores of the case group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). There was no correla­tion between working memory capacity test, DDT, and GDT scores. (p > 0.05, r < 0.1). Conclusion: Noise exposure in the work envi­ronment causes weakness in temporal and dich­otic auditory processing, and working memory capacity. But there was no correlation between working memory capacity and auditory proce­ssing. The findings of this study show the eff­ects of noise exposure on speech perception and the need to protect hearing from noise.

scholarly journals Effects of noise and working memory capacity on memory processing of speech for hearing-aid users

2013 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 433-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Hoi Ning Ng ◽  
Mary Rudner ◽  
Thomas Lunner ◽  
Michael Syskind Pedersen ◽  
Jerker Rönnberg
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Memory Processing

Can Behavioral Speech-In-Noise Tests Improve the Quality of Hearing Aid Fittings?

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-14
Author(s):  
Robert Moore ◽  
Susan Gordon-Hickey
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Speech Perception ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Speech Perception In Noise ◽  
Speech In Noise ◽  
Acceptable Noise Level ◽  
Perceptual Performance ◽  
Noise Test

The purpose of this article is to propose 4 dimensions for consideration in hearing aid fittings and 4 tests to evaluate those dimensions. The 4 dimensions and tests are (a) working memory, evaluated by the Revised Speech Perception in Noise test (Bilger, Nuetzel, & Rabinowitz, 1984); (b) performance in noise, evaluated by the Quick Speech in Noise test (QSIN; Killion, Niquette, Gudmundsen, Revit, & Banerjee, 2004); (c) acceptance of noise, evaluated by the Acceptable Noise Level test (ANL; Nabelek, Tucker, & Letowski, 1991); and (d) performance versus perception, evaluated by the Perceptual–Performance test (PPT; Saunders & Cienkowski, 2002). The authors discuss the 4 dimensions and tests in the context of improving the quality of hearing aid fittings.

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