scholarly journals Speech Recognition and Temporal Processing in Middle-Aged Women

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (04) ◽  
pp. 264-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen S. Helfer ◽  
Megan Vargo
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Temporal Processing ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Spatial Separation ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Speech Understanding ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Aged Subjects ◽  
Competing Speech

Purpose: This study was designed to examine speech understanding ability and temporal processing in middle-aged women with normal or near-normal pure-tone thresholds. Research Design: Speech understanding, temporal processing ability, and self-assessed hearing were measured in groups of younger and middle-aged females. Study Sample: Participants were younger and middle-aged females (n = 12 per group) with normal hearing through 4000 Hz bilaterally. Subjects were drawn from nonclinical populations. Data Collection and Analysis: Speech understanding was measured in the presence of steady-state noise and competing speech, with and without perceived spatial separation of the target speech and masker. The Gaps-In-Noise (GIN) test (Musiek et al, 2005) was used to assess temporal resolution ability. In addition, subjects completed a questionnaire with several items from the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (Gatehouse and Noble, 2004) to gauge their subjective ability to understand speech in complex listening situations. Data were analyzed via repeated-measures ANOVA and Pearson r correlations. Results: Results showed that the performance of the middle-aged subjects was significantly poorer than that of the younger participants in the presence of a spatially coincident speech masker. Although performance in this listening condition was unrelated to pure-tone thresholds, it was strongly correlated with scores on the GIN test. Speech understanding performance in the presence of a steady-state masker was related to high-frequency pure-tone thresholds. Conclusions: These results suggest that some middle-aged women with little or no pure-tone hearing loss experience listening difficulty in complex environments. Results also suggest a strong relationship between temporal processing and speech understanding in certain competing speech situations.

Sentence Recognition in Steady-State Speech-Shaped Noise versus Four-Talker Babble

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (01) ◽  
pp. 054-065
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Vermiglio ◽  
Caroline C. Herring ◽  
Paige Heeke ◽  
Courtney E. Post ◽  
Xiangming Fang
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Spatial Separation ◽  
Normal Limits ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Noise Test ◽  
Speech Recognition In Noise ◽  
Binaural Listening

AbstractSpeech recognition in noise (SRN) evaluations reveal information about listening ability that is unavailable from pure-tone thresholds. Unfortunately, SRN evaluations are not commonly used in the clinic. A lack of standardization may be an explanation for the lack of widespread acceptance of SRN testing. Arguments have been made for the utilization of steady-state speech-shaped noise vs. multi-talker babble. Previous investigations into the effect of masker type have used a monaural presentation of the stimuli. However, results of monaural SRN tests cannot be generalized to binaural listening conditions.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of masker type on SRN thresholds under binaural listening conditions.The Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) protocol was selected in order to measure SRN thresholds in steady-state speech-shaped noise (HINT noise) and four-talker babble with and without the spatial separation of the target speech and masker stimuli.Fifty native speakers of English with normal pure-tone thresholds (≤ 25 dB HL, 250–4000 Hz) participated in the study. The mean age was 20.5 years (SD 1.01).All participants were tested using the standard protocol for the HINT in a simulated soundfield environment under TDH-50P headphones. Thresholds were measured for the Noise Front, Noise Left, and Noise Right listening conditions with HINT noise and four-talker babble. The HINT composite score was determined for each noise condition. The spatial advantage was calculated from the HINT thresholds. Pure-tone threshold data were collected using the modified Hughson-Westlake procedure. Statistical analyses include descriptive statistics, effect size, correlations, and repeated measures ANOVA followed by matched-pairs t-tests.Repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to investigate the effects of masker type and noise location on HINT thresholds. Both main effects and their interaction were statistically significant (p < 0.01). No significant differences were found between masker conditions for the Noise Front thresholds. However, for the Noise Side conditions the four-talker babble thresholds were significantly better than the HINT noise thresholds. Overall, greater spatial advantage was found for the four-talker babble as opposed to the HINT noise conditions (p < 0.01). Pearson correlation analysis revealed no significant relationships between four-talker babble and HINT noise speech recognition performances for the Noise Front, Noise Right conditions, and the spatial advantage measures. Significant relationships (p < 0.05) were found between masking noise performances for the Noise Left condition and the Noise Composite scores.One cannot assume that a patient who performs within normal limits on a speech in four-talker babble test will also perform within normal limits on a speech in steady-state speech-shaped noise test, and vice-versa. Additionally, performances for the Noise Front condition cannot be used to predict performances for the Noise Side conditions. The utilization of both HINT noise and four-talker babble maskers, with and without the spatial separation of the stimuli, may be useful when determining the range of speech recognition in noise abilities found in everyday listening conditions.

Temporal Processing in Low-Frequency Channels: Effects of Age and Hearing Loss in Middle-Aged Listeners

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (07) ◽  
pp. 393-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth D. Leigh-Paffenroth ◽  
Saravanan Elangovan
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Word Recognition ◽  
Temporal Processing ◽  
Background Noise ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Gap Detection ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Hearing Sensitivity

Background: Hearing loss and age interfere with the auditory system's ability to process temporal changes in the acoustic signal. A key unresolved question is whether high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (HFSNHL) affects temporal processing in the low-frequency region where hearing loss is minimal or nonexistent. A second unresolved question is whether changes in hearing occur in middle-aged subjects in the absence of HFSNHL. Purpose: The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to examine the influence of HFSNHL and aging on the auditory temporal processing abilities of low-frequency auditory channels with normal hearing sensitivity and (2) to examine the relations among gap detection measures, self-assessment reports of understanding speech, and functional measures of speech perception in middle-aged individuals with and without HFSNHL. Research Design: The subject groups were matched for either age (middle age) or pure-tone sensitivity (with or without hearing loss) to study the effects of age and HFSNHL on behavioral and functional measures of temporal processing and word recognition performance. These effects were analyzed by individual repeated-measures analyses of variance. Post hoc analyses were performed for each significant main effect and interaction. The relationships among the measures were analyzed with Pearson correlations. Study Sample: Eleven normal-hearing young adults (YNH), eight normal-hearing middle-aged adults (MANH), and nine middle-aged adults with HFSNHL were recruited for this study. Normal hearing sensitivity was defined as pure-tone thresholds ≤25 dB HL for octave frequencies from 250 to 8000 Hz. HFSNHL was defined as pure-tone thresholds ≤25 dB HL from 250 to 2000 Hz and ≥35 dB HL from 3000 to 8000 Hz. Data Collection and Analysis: Gap detection thresholds (GDTs) were measured under within-channel and between-channel conditions with the stimulus spectrum limited to regions of normal hearing sensitivity for the HFSNHL group (i.e., <2000 Hz). Self-perceived hearing problems were measured by a questionnaire (Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit), and word recognition performance was assessed under four conditions: quiet and babble, with and without low-pass filtering (cutoff frequency = 2000 Hz). Results: The effects of HFSNHL and age were found for gap detection, self-perceived hearing problems, and word recognition in noise. The presence of HFSNHL significantly increased GDTs for stimuli presented in regions of normal pure-tone sensitivity. In addition, middle-aged subjects with normal hearing sensitivity reported significantly more problems hearing in background noise than the young normal-hearing subjects. Significant relationships between self-report measures of hearing ability in background noise and word recognition in babble were found. Conclusions: The conclusions from the present study are twofold: (1) HFSNHL may have an off-channel impact on auditory temporal processing, and (2) presenescent changes in the auditory system of MANH subjects increased self-perceived problems hearing in background noise and decreased functional performance in background noise compared with YNH subjects.

scholarly journals Competing Speech Perception in Middle Age

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen S. Helfer
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Speech Perception ◽  
Aging Process ◽  
Middle Age ◽  
Speech Understanding ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Listening Environments ◽  
Middle Aged Adults ◽  
Competing Speech

Purpose This research forum article summarizes research from our laboratory that assessed middle-aged adults' ability to understand speech in the presence of competing talkers. Method The performance of middle-aged adults on laboratory-based speech understanding tasks was compared to that of younger and older adults. Results Decline in the ability to understand speech in complex listening environments can be demonstrated in midlife. The specific auditory and cognitive contributors to these problems have yet to be established. Conclusion There is evidence that the ability to understand a target speech message in the presence of competing speech messages changes relatively early in the aging process. The nature and impact of these changes warrant further investigation.

Exercise slightly above the maximal lactate steady state reduces self-efficacy and increases negative affect

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Graeme Wrightson ◽  
Louis Passfield
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Constant Load ◽  
Peak Power Output ◽  
Time To Exhaustion ◽  
Maximal Lactate Steady State

Objectives: To examine the effect of exercise at and slightly above the maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) on self-efficacy, affect and effort, and their associations with exercise tolerance.Design: Counterbalanced, repeated measures designMethod: Participants performed two 30‐minute constant‐load cycling exercise at a power output equal to that at MLSS and 10 W above MLSS, immediately followed by a time‐to‐exhaustion test at 80% of their peak power output. Self-efficacy, affect and effort were measured before and after 30 minutes of cycling at and above MLSS.Results: Negative affect and effort higher, and self-efficacy and time to exhaustion were reduced, following cycling at MLSS + 10 W compared to cycling at the MLSS. Following exercise at the MLSS self-efficacy, affect and effort were all associated with subsequent time-to exhaustion. However, following exercise at MLSS + 10 W, only affect was associated with time-to exhaustion. Conclusions: Self efficacy, affect and effort are profoundly affected by physiological state, highlighting the influence of somatic states on perceptions and emotions during exercise. The affective response to exercise appears to be associated with exercise tolerance, indicating that the emotional, as well as physiological, responses should be considered when prescribing exercise training.

Reliability and Concurrent Validity of Shoulder Tissue Irritability Classification

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen M Kareha ◽  
Philip W McClure ◽  
Alicia Fernandez-Fernandez
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Clinical Practice Guidelines ◽  
Practice Guidelines ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Concurrent Validity ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Rating System ◽  
Roc Curve Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Objective Rating tissue irritability has been recommended to aid decision making in several recent clinical practice guidelines. An explicit method for rating tissue irritability was proposed as part of the Staged Algorithm for Rehabilitation Classification: Shoulder Disorders (STAR-Shoulder), but the reliability and validity of this classification are unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and concurrent validity of shoulder tissue irritability ratings as part of a system designed to guide appropriate treatment strategy and intensity. Methods A clinical measurement, prospective repeated-measures cross-sectional design was used. The 101 consecutive participants with primary complaints of shoulder pain were assessed by pairs of blinded raters (24 raters in total) and rated for tissue irritability. Patients completed 3 patient-rated outcome (PRO) measures reflecting both pain and disability, and these scores were compared with ratings of tissue irritability. Paired ratings of irritability were analyzed for reliability with prevalence-adjusted, bias-adjusted Kappa for ordinal scales (PABAK-OS). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare PRO measures across different levels of irritability. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was utilized to derive cut-off scores for 3 PRO instruments. Results Interrater reliability was 0.69 (95% CI = 0.59–0.78), with 67% agreement. All PRO measures were significantly different among 3 levels of tissue irritability. Conclusion There appear to be acceptable reliability and a strong relationship between PRO measures and therapist-rated tissue irritability, supporting the use of the STAR-Shoulder irritability rating system. Impact Several clinical practice guidelines have recommended that clinicians rate tissue irritability as part of their examination. This study provides important new information supporting the reliability and validity of the STAR-Shoulder tissue irritability rating system.

scholarly journals Evaluation of maximal lactate steady state in middle-aged hypertensive women

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maycon Júnior Ferreira ◽  
Aline Pincerato Jarrete ◽  
Rodrigo Degli Esposti ◽  
Carlos Henrique Grossi Sponton ◽  
Chadi Pelegrini Anaruma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Maximal Lactate Steady State

Changes in medical treatment six months after risk stratification with HeartScore and coronary artery calcification scanning of healthy middle-aged subjects

2011 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 1496-1502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mette Hjortdal Sørensen ◽  
Oke Gerke ◽  
Jess Lambrechtsen ◽  
Niels Peter Rønnow Sand ◽  
Rikke Mols ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Risk Stratification ◽  
Medical Treatment ◽  
Coronary Artery Calcification ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Aged Subjects

Effect of n-3 fatty acids on heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity in middle-aged subjects

2003 ◽  
Vol 146 (2) ◽  
pp. 344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anouk Geelen ◽  
Peter L Zock ◽  
Cees A Swenne ◽  
Ingeborg A Brouwer ◽  
Evert G Schouten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Baroreflex Sensitivity ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Aged Subjects

scholarly journals Modulation of Delta Activity by Hypnotics in Middle-Aged Subjects: Studies with a Benzodiazepine (Flurazepam) and a Cyclopyrrolone (Zopiclone)

SLEEP ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 348-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola A. Wright ◽  
R. G. Borland Belyavin ◽  
A. N. Nicholson
Keyword(s):  
Middle Aged ◽  
Delta Activity ◽  
Aged Subjects

Acute Hypoxia and Exercise-Induced Blood Oxidative Stress

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 684-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham McGinnis ◽  
Brian Kliszczewiscz ◽  
Matthew Barberio ◽  
Christopher Ballmann ◽  
Bridget Peters ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Acute Hypoxia ◽  
Protein Carbonyls ◽  
Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity ◽  
Lipid Hydroperoxides ◽  
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers ◽  
Post Exercise ◽  
Reducing Ability

Hypoxic exercise is characterized by workloads decrements. Because exercise and high altitude independently elicit redox perturbations, the study purpose was to examine hypoxic and normoxic steady-state exercise on blood oxidative stress. Active males (n = 11) completed graded cycle ergometry in normoxic (975 m) and hypoxic (3,000 m) simulated environments before programing subsequent matched intensity or workload steady-state trials. In a randomized counterbalanced crossover design, participants completed three 60-min exercise bouts to investigate the effects of hypoxia and exercise intensity on blood oxidative stress. Exercise conditions were paired as such; 60% normoxic VO2peak performed in a normoxic environment (normoxic intensity-normoxic environment, NI-NE), 60% hypoxic VO2peak performed in a normoxic environment (HI-NE), and 60% hypoxic VO2peak performed in a hypoxic environment (HI-HE). Blood plasma samples drawn pre (Pre), 0 (Post), 2 (2HR) and 4 (4HR) hr post exercise were analyzed for oxidative stress biomarkers including ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) and protein carbonyls (PCs). Repeated-measures ANOVA were performed, a priori significance of p ≤ .05. Oxygen saturation during the HI-HE trial was lower than NI-NE and HI-NE (p < .05). A Time × Trial interaction was present for LOOH (p = .013). In the HI-HE trial, LOOH were elevated for all time points post while PC (time; p = .001) decreased post exercise. As evidenced by the decrease in absolute workload during hypoxic VO2peak and LOOH increased during HI-HE versus normoxic exercise of equal absolute (HI-NE) and relative (NI-NE) intensities. Results suggest acute hypoxia elicits work decrements associated with post exercise oxidative stress.

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