Working Memory Supports Listening in Noise for Persons with Hearing Impairment

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (03) ◽  
pp. 156-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Rudner ◽  
Jerker Rönnberg ◽  
Thomas Lunner
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Cognitive Capacity ◽  
Speech Understanding ◽  
Low Constraint ◽  
Fast Acting

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated a relation between cognitive capacity, in particular working memory, and the ability to understand speech in noise with different types of hearing aid signal processing. Purpose: The present study investigates the relation between working memory capacity and the speech recognition performance of persons with hearing impairment under both aided and unaided conditions, following a period of familiarization to both fast- and slow-acting compression settings in the participants’ own hearing aids. Research Design: Speech recognition was tested in modulated and steady state noise with fast and slow compression release settings (for aided conditions) with each of two materials. Working memory capacity was also measured. Study Sample: Thirty experienced hearing aid users with a mean age of 70 yr (SD = 7.8) and pure-tone average hearing threshold across the frequencies 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 kHz (PTA7) and for both ears of 45.8 dB HL (SD = 6.6). Intervention: 9 wk experience with each of fast-acting and slow-acting compression. Data Collection and Analysis: Speech recognition data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance with the within-subjects factors of material (high constraint, low constraint), noise type (steady state, modulated), and compression (fast, slow), and the between-subjects factor working memory capacity (high, low). Results: With high constraint material, there were three-way interactions including noise type and working memory as well as compression, in aided conditions, and performance level, in unaided conditions, but no effects of either working memory or compression with low constraint material. Investigation of simple main effects showed a significant effect of working memory during speech recognition under conditions of both “high degradation” (modulated noise, fast-acting compression, low signal-to-noise ratio [SNR]) and “low degradation” (steady state noise, slow-acting compression, high SNR). The finding of superior performance of persons with high working memory capacity in modulated noise with fast-acting compression agrees with findings of previous studies including a familiarization period of at least 9 wk, in contrast to studies with familiarization of 4 wk or less that have shown that persons with lower cognitive capacity may benefit from slow-acting compression. Conclusions: Working memory is a crucial factor in speech understanding in noise for persons with hearing impairment, irrespective of whether hearing is aided or unaided. Working memory supports speech understanding in noise under conditions of both “high degradation” and “low degradation.” A subcomponent view of working memory may contribute to our understanding of these phenomena. The effect of cognition on speech understanding in modulated noise with fast-acting compression may only pertain after a period of 4–9 wk of familiarization and that prior to such a period, persons with lower cognitive capacity may benefit more from slow-acting compression.

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 Working Memory Capacity: Limits on the Bandwidth of Cognition

Daedalus ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 144 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Earl K. Miller ◽  
Timothy J. Buschman
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Cognitive Capacity ◽  
Brain Rhythms ◽  
Capacity Limits ◽  
Brain Waves ◽  
Neural Communication ◽  
The Brain

Why can your brain store a lifetime of experiences but process only a few thoughts at once? In this article we discuss “cognitive capacity” (the number of items that can be held “in mind” simultaneously) and suggest that the limit is inherent to processing based on oscillatory brain rhythms, or “brain waves,” which may regulate neural communication. Neurons that “hum” together temporarily “wire” together, allowing the brain to form and re-form networks on the fly, which may explain a hallmark of intelligence and cognition: mental flexibility. But this comes at a cost; only a small number of thoughts can fit into each wave. This explains why you should never talk on a mobile phone when driving.

scholarly journals Listener Factors Associated with Individual Susceptibility to Reverberation

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (01) ◽  
pp. 073-082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul N. Reinhart ◽  
Pamela E. Souza
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Stepwise Linear Regression ◽  
Temporal Envelope ◽  
Reverberant Speech

AbstractReverberation is a source of acoustic degradation, present to varying extents in many everyday listening environments. The presence of reverberation decreases speech intelligibility, especially for listeners with hearing impairment. There is substantial variability in how susceptible individuals with hearing impairment are to the effects of reverberation (i.e., how intelligible reverberant speech is to a listener). Relatively little is known about the listener factors which drive that susceptibility.To identify listener factors that are associated with an individual’s susceptibility to reverberation. Another purpose was to investigate how these listener factors are associated with reverberant susceptibility in relation to the amount of reverberation. The listener factors investigated were degree of hearing loss, age, temporal envelope sensitivity, and working memory capacity.This study used a correlational design to investigate the association between different listener factors and speech intelligibility with varying amounts of reverberation.Thirty-three older adults with sensorineural hearing loss participated in the study.Listener temporal envelope sensitivity was measured using a gap detection threshold task. Listener working memory capacity was measured using the Reading Span Test. Intelligibility of reverberant speech was measured using a set of low-context sentence materials presented at 70 dB SPL without individual frequency shaping. Sentences were presented at a range of realistic reverberation times, including no reverberation (0.0 sec), moderate reverberation (1.0 sec), and severe reverberation (4.0 sec). Stepwise linear regression analyses were conducted to model speech intelligibility using individual degree of hearing loss, age, temporal envelope sensitivity, and working memory capacity. A separate stepwise linear regression model was conducted to model listener speech intelligibility at each of the three levels of reverberation.As the amount of reverberation increased, listener speech intelligibility decreased and variability in scores among individuals increased. Temporal envelope sensitivity was most closely associated with speech intelligibility in the no reverberation condition. Both listener age and degree of hearing loss were significantly associated with speech intelligibility in the moderate reverberation condition. Both listener working memory capacity and age were significantly associated with speech intelligibility in the severe reverberation condition.The results suggest that suprathreshold listener factors can be used to best predict speech intelligibility across a range of reverberant conditions. However, which listener factor(s) to consider when predicting a listener’s susceptibility to reverberation depends on the amount of reverberation in an environment. Clinicians may be able to use different listener factors to identify individuals who are more susceptible to reverberation and would be more likely to have difficulty communicating in reverberant environments.

Listening Effort in Cochlear Implant Users: The Effect of Speech Intelligibility, Noise Reduction Processing, and Working Memory Capacity on the Pupil Dilation Response

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Gertjan Dingemanse ◽  
André Goedegebure
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Recognition Performance ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Pupil Dilation ◽  
Peak Latency ◽  
Reading Span ◽  
Listening Effort ◽  
Speech Recognition In Noise

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of speech recognition performance, working memory capacity (WMC), and a noise reduction algorithm (NRA) on listening effort as measured with pupillometry in cochlear implant (CI) users while listening to speech in noise. Method: Speech recognition and pupil responses (peak dilation, peak latency, and release of dilation) were measured during a speech recognition task at three speech-to-noise ratios (SNRs) with an NRA in both on and off conditions. WMC was measured with a reading span task. Twenty experienced CI users participated in this study. Results: With increasing SNR and speech recognition performance, (a) the peak pupil dilation decreased by only a small amount, (b) the peak latency decreased, and (c) the release of dilation after the sentences increased. The NRA had no effect on speech recognition in noise or on the peak or latency values of the pupil response but caused less release of dilation after the end of the sentences. A lower reading span score was associated with higher peak pupil dilation but was not associated with peak latency, release of dilation, or speech recognition in noise. Conclusions: In CI users, speech perception is effortful, even at higher speech recognition scores and high SNRs, indicating that CI users are in a chronic state of increased effort in communication situations. The application of a clinically used NRA did not improve speech perception, nor did it reduce listening effort. Participants with a relatively low WMC exerted relatively more listening effort but did not have better speech reception thresholds in noise.

Measures of Working Memory, Sequence Learning, and Speech Recognition in the Elderly

2005 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 224-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry E. Humes ◽  
Shari S. Floyd
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Sequence Learning ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Visual Stimulation ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Learning Ability ◽  
Impaired Hearing ◽  
Age Related

This study describes the measurement of 2 cognitive functions, working-memory capacity and sequence learning, in 2 groups of listeners: young adults with normal hearing and elderly adults with impaired hearing. The measurement of these 2 cognitive abilities with a unique, nonverbal technique capable of auditory, visual, and auditory-visual stimulation, patterned after the Simon memory game, is described. The use of simple, easily understood items in the test sequences enabled the measurement of these cognitive abilities in older listeners with no apparent impact of age-related hearing loss on the cognitive measures. Age-related cognitive deficits were observed for all 3 modes of stimulation and in both working-memory capacity and sequence-learning ability. The age-related deficits appeared to be greatest, however, for the sequence-learning task. Although it was hypothesized that there might be an association between an individual's performance on these cognitive tasks and his or her performance on various measures of speech recognition, such an association generally was not observed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document