Impact of Aging and the Electrode-to-Neural Interface on Temporal Processing Ability in Cochlear-Implant Users: Gap Detection Thresholds

Accurate processing of temporal information is critical to understanding speech through a cochlear implant (CI). This has potential implications for the growing population of CI users who are ≥65 years of age because of age-related auditory temporal processing deficits. The goal of this study was to measure temporal processing ability in a gap detection task in younger, middle-aged, and older CI users and to determine the relative contributions of chronological age and peripheral neural survival to performance. Single-electrode gap detection thresholds (GDTs) were measured using direct stimulation at five electrode locations and three electrical stimulation rates. The relationship between peripheral status (e.g., electrode-to-neural interface) and GDTs was assessed by the slope of the electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) amplitude growth function. Results showed that ECAP slope was the strongest subject-level predictor of GDTs. Steeper ECAP slopes, which are partially indicative of better peripheral function, were associated with better GDTs in younger participants. However, ECAP slope significantly interacted with stimulation rate and age, suggesting that ECAP slopes were not predictive of GDTs in middle-aged and older participants at some stimulation rates. ECAP slope was also related to age, with middle-aged and older participants exhibiting relatively shallow slopes and smaller ranges of slopes compared with younger participants. This pattern of ECAP results limited the evaluation of the independent effects of aging per se and peripheral status on temporal processing ability.

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Impact of Aging and the Electrode-to-Neural Interface on Temporal Processing Ability in Cochlear-Implant Users: Amplitude-Modulation Detection Thresholds

Trends in Hearing ◽

10.1177/2331216520936160 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 ◽

pp. 233121652093616

Author(s):

Maureen J. Shader ◽

Sandra Gordon-Salant ◽

Matthew J. Goupell

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Amplitude Modulation ◽

Temporal Processing ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Neural Interface ◽

Chronological Age ◽

Detection Thresholds ◽

Auditory Temporal Processing ◽

Age Related ◽

Processing Ability

Although cochlear implants (CIs) are a viable treatment option for severe hearing loss in adults of any age, older adults may be at a disadvantage compared with younger adults. CIs deliver signals that contain limited spectral information, requiring CI users to attend to the temporal information within the signal to recognize speech. Older adults are susceptible to acquiring auditory temporal processing deficits, presenting a potential age-related limitation for recognizing speech signals delivered by CIs. The goal of this study was to measure auditory temporal processing ability via amplitude-modulation (AM) detection as a function of age in CI users. The contribution of the electrode-to-neural interface, in addition to age, was estimated using electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) amplitude growth functions. Within each participant, two electrodes were selected: one with the steepest ECAP slope and one with the shallowest ECAP slope, in order to represent electrodes with varied estimates of the electrode-to-neural interface. Single-electrode AM detection thresholds were measured using direct stimulation at these two electrode locations. Results revealed that AM detection ability significantly declined as a function of chronological age. ECAP slope did not significantly impact AM detection, but ECAP slope decreased (became shallower) with increasing age, suggesting that factors influencing the electrode-to-neural interface change with age. Results demonstrated a significant negative impact of chronological age on auditory temporal processing. The locus of the age-related limitation (peripheral vs. central origin), however, is difficult to evaluate because the peripheral influence (ECAPs) was correlated with the central factor (age).

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Age-Related Temporal Processing Deficits in Word Segments in Adult Cochlear-Implant Users

Trends in Hearing ◽

10.1177/2331216519886688 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 23 ◽

pp. 233121651988668 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Zilong Xie ◽

Casey R. Gaskins ◽

Maureen J. Shader ◽

Sandra Gordon-Salant ◽

Samira Anderson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cochlear Implant ◽

Temporal Processing ◽

Word Identification ◽

Speech Understanding ◽

Potential Mechanism ◽

Auditory Temporal Processing ◽

Categorization Task ◽

Performance Differences ◽

Temporal Cues ◽

Age Related

Aging may limit speech understanding outcomes in cochlear-implant (CI) users. Here, we examined age-related declines in auditory temporal processing as a potential mechanism that underlies speech understanding deficits associated with aging in CI users. Auditory temporal processing was assessed with a categorization task for the words dish and ditch (i.e., identify each token as the word dish or ditch) on a continuum of speech tokens with varying silence duration (0 to 60 ms) prior to the final fricative. In Experiments 1 and 2, younger CI (YCI), middle-aged CI (MCI), and older CI (OCI) users participated in the categorization task across a range of presentation levels (25 to 85 dB). Relative to YCI, OCI required longer silence durations to identify ditch and exhibited reduced ability to distinguish the words dish and ditch (shallower slopes in the categorization function). Critically, we observed age-related performance differences only at higher presentation levels. This contrasted with findings from normal-hearing listeners in Experiment 3 that demonstrated age-related performance differences independent of presentation level. In summary, aging in CI users appears to degrade the ability to utilize brief temporal cues in word identification, particularly at high levels. Age-specific CI programming may potentially improve clinical outcomes for speech understanding performance by older CI listeners.

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Ultra-fine temporal resolution in auditory processing is preserved in aged mice without peripheral hearing loss

10.1101/363994 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Lasse Osterhagen ◽

K. Jannis Hildebrandt

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Auditory Cortex ◽

Temporal Processing ◽

Auditory Processing ◽

Auditory Brainstem ◽

Neural Representation ◽

Gap Detection ◽

Detection Thresholds ◽

Age Related ◽

Brainstem Response

AbstractAge-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is caused by damage to the periphery as well as deterioration of central auditory processing. Gap detection is a paradigm to study age-related temporal processing deficits, which is assumed to be determined primarily by the latter. However, peripheral hearing loss is a strong confounding factor when using gap detection to measure temporal processing. In this study, we used mice from the CAST line, which is known to maintain excellent peripheral hearing, to rule out any contribution of peripheral hearing loss to gap detection performance. We employed an operant Go/No-go paradigm to obtain psychometric functions of gap in noise (GIN) detection at young and middle age. Besides, we measured auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and multiunit recordings in the auditory cortex (AC) in order to disentangle the processing stages of gap detection. We found detection thresholds around 0.6 ms in all measurement modalities. Detection thresholds did not increase with age. In the ABR, GIN stimuli are coded as onset responses to the noise that follows the gap, strikingly similar to the ABR of noise bursts in silence (NBIS). The simplicity of the neural representation of the gap together with the preservation of detection threshold in aged CAST mice suggests that GIN detection in the mouse is primarily determined by peripheral, not central processing.AbbreviaionsGINgap in noiseABRauditory brainstem responseACauditory cortexNBISnoise burst in silenceIINinhibitory interneuron

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Electrophysiological Gap Detection Thresholds: Effects of Age and Comparison with a Behavioral Measure

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.3766/jaaa.25.10.8 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 25 (10) ◽

pp. 999-1007 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Shannon B. Palmer ◽

Frank E. Musiek

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Temporal Processing ◽

Detection Threshold ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Behavioral Measure ◽

Gap Detection ◽

Adult Group ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Detection Thresholds ◽

Processing Ability

Background: Temporal processing ability has been linked to speech understanding ability and older adults often complain of difficulty understanding speech in difficult listening situations. Temporal processing can be evaluated using gap detection procedures. There is some research showing that gap detection can be evaluated using an electrophysiological procedure. However, there is currently no research establishing gap detection threshold using the N1-P2 response. Purpose: The purposes of the current study were to 1) determine gap detection thresholds in younger and older normal-hearing adults using an electrophysiological measure, 2) compare the electrophysiological gap detection threshold and behavioral gap detection threshold within each group, and 3) investigate the effect of age on each gap detection measure. Design: This study utilized an older adult group and younger adult group to compare performance on an electrophysiological and behavioral gap detection procedure. Study Sample: The subjects in this study were 11 younger, normal-hearing adults (mean = 22 yrs) and 11 older, normal-hearing adults (mean = 64.36 yrs). Data Collection: All subjects completed an adaptive behavioral gap detection procedure in order to determine their behavioral gap detection threshold (BGDT). Subjects also completed an electrophysiologic gap detection procedure to determine their electrophysiologic gap detection threshold (EGDT). Results: Older adults demonstrated significantly larger gap detection thresholds than the younger adults. However, EGDT and BGDT were not significantly different in either group. The mean difference between EGDT and BGDT for all subjects was 0.43 msec. Conclusions: Older adults show poorer gap detection ability when compared to younger adults. However, this study shows that gap detection thresholds can be measured using evoked potential recordings and yield results similar to a behavioral measure.

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Auditory Phenotypic Variability in Friedreich’s Ataxia Patients

The Cerebellum ◽

10.1007/s12311-021-01236-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nehzat Koohi ◽

Gilbert Thomas-Black ◽

Paola Giunti ◽

Doris-Eva Bamiou

Keyword(s):

Speech Perception ◽

Temporal Processing ◽

Friedreich’S Ataxia ◽

Cognitive Status ◽

Friedreich's Ataxia ◽

Spatial Processing ◽

Auditory Temporal Processing ◽

Processing Ability ◽

Brainstem Response ◽

Auditory Impairment

AbstractAuditory neural impairment is a key clinical feature of Friedreich’s Ataxia (FRDA). We aimed to characterize the phenotypical spectrum of the auditory impairment in FRDA in order to facilitate early identification and timely management of auditory impairment in FRDA patients and to explore the relationship between the severity of auditory impairment with genetic variables (the expansion size of GAA trinucleotide repeats, GAA1 and GAA2), when controlled for variables such as disease duration, severity of the disease and cognitive status. Twenty-seven patients with genetically confirmed FRDA underwent baseline audiological assessment (pure-tone audiometry, otoacoustic emissions, auditory brainstem response). Twenty of these patients had additional psychophysical auditory processing evaluation including an auditory temporal processing test (gaps in noise test) and a binaural speech perception test that assesses spatial processing (Listening in Spatialized Noise-Sentences Test). Auditory spatial and auditory temporal processing ability were significantly associated with the repeat length of GAA1. Patients with GAA1 greater than 500 repeats had more severe auditory temporal and spatial processing deficits, leading to poorer speech perception. Furthermore, the spatial processing ability was strongly correlated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate an association between genotype and auditory spatial processing phenotype in patients with FRDA. Auditory temporal processing, neural sound conduction, spatial processing and speech perception were more severely affected in patients with GAA1 greater than 500 repeats. The results of our study may indicate that auditory deprivation plays a role in the development of mild cognitive impairment in FRDA patients.

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Gap detection thresholds of Laura cochlear implant users for complex patterns of stimulation

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America ◽

10.1121/1.426175 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 105 (2) ◽

pp. 1296-1296

Author(s):

Astrid van Wieringen ◽

Jan Wouters

Keyword(s):

Cochlear Implant ◽

Gap Detection ◽

Detection Thresholds ◽

Complex Patterns

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Mice heterozygous for the Cdh23/Ahl1 mutation show age-related deficits in auditory temporal processing

Neurobiology of Aging ◽

10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.02.029 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 81 ◽

pp. 47-57 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Alice L. Burghard ◽

Nazli P. Morel ◽

Douglas L. Oliver

Keyword(s):

Temporal Processing ◽

Auditory Temporal Processing ◽

Age Related

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Performance of Some of the Better Cochlear-Implant Patients

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/jshr.3204.887 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 887-911 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Richard S. Tyler ◽

Brian C. J. Moore ◽

Francis K. Kuk

Keyword(s):

Word Recognition ◽

Cochlear Implant ◽

Scaling Analysis ◽

Gap Detection ◽

Environmental Sound ◽

Sound Perception ◽

Detection Thresholds ◽

Closed Set ◽

Open Set ◽

Wide Range

The main purpose of this study was to provide an independent corroboration of open-set word recognition in some of the better cochlear-implant patients. These included the Chorimac, Nucleus (one group from the U.S.A. and one group from Hannover, Germany), Symbion, Duren/Cologne and 3M/Vienna implants. Three experiments are reported: (1) word recognition in word lists and in sentences; (2) environmental sound perception, and (3) gap detection. On word recognition, the scores of 6 Chorimac patients averaged 2.5% words and 0.7% words in sentences correct in the French tests. In the German tests, the scores averaged 17% words and 10% words in sentences for 10 Duren/Cologne patients, 15% words and 16% words in sentences for 9 3M/Vienna patients, and 10% words and 16% words in sentences (3% to 26%) for 10 Nucleus/Hannover patients. In the English tests, the scores averaged 11% words and 29.6% words in sentences for l0 Nucleus-U.S.A. patients, and 13.7% words and 35.7% words in sentences for the 9 Symbion patients. The ability to recognize recorded environmental sounds was measured with a closed set of 18 sounds. Performance averaged 23% correct for Chorimac patients, 41% correct for 3M/Vienna patients, 44% correct for Nucleus/Hannover patients, 21% correct for Duren/Cologne patients, 58% correct for Nucleus/U.S.A. patients, and 83% correct for Symbion patients. A multidimensional scaling analysis suggested that patients were, in part, utilizing information about the envelope and about the periodic/aperiodic nature of some of the sounds. Gap detection thresholds with a one-octave wide noise centered at 500 Hz varied widely among patients. Typically, patients with gap thresholds less than 40 ms showed a wide range of performance on speech perception tasks, whereas patients with gap-detection thresholds greater than 40 ms showed poor word recognition skills.

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