Jermy Pang1, Elizabeth Francis Beach1,2, Megan Gilliver1, Ingrid Yeend1,2,3. 1. National Acoustic Laboratories, Sydney, Australia. 2. The HEARing CRC, Melbourne, Australia. 3. Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Australia.
Abstract
Objective: Listening difficulties in noise are common, even in those with clinically normal hearing. There is a suggestion that subjective assessment of hearing difficulties may be more closely associated with listening effort and fatigue rather than objective measures of hearing and/or speech perception. The aim of this study was to better understand these perceptual deficits and experiences of this population.Design: An exploratory survey was distributed to participants with self-reported listening-in-noise difficulties. The primary aim of the survey was to gather information about challenging listening environments, its impact, and preferred rehabilitation strategies. Secondly, responses were compared to their performance on behavioural tasks.Study sample: Fifty adults aged 33-55 (22 females, with normal or near-normal hearing thresholds), completed the survey, and 45 of these performed behavioural tasks. Results: Background noise with conversational content was the most common source of hearing difficulties. Participants expended higher concentration and attention when communicating in noise, and correlations with previously published behavioural data was reported. Social impacts varied, few had sought treatment, and respondents preferred training over devices.Conclusions: Insights gained may provide clinicians and researchers with an understanding of the situations, impacts and non-auditory factors associated with listening-in-noise difficulties, and preferred rehabilitation for these clients.
Objective: Listening difficulties in noise are common, even in those with clinically normal hearing. There is a suggestion that subjective assessment of hearing difficulties may be more closely associated with listening effort and fatigue rather than objective measures of hearing and/or speech perception. The aim of this study was to better understand these perceptual deficits and experiences of this population.Design: An exploratory survey was distributed to participants with self-reported listening-in-noise difficulties. The primary aim of the survey was to gather information about challenging listening environments, its impact, and preferred rehabilitation strategies. Secondly, responses were compared to their performance on behavioural tasks.Study sample: Fifty adults aged 33-55 (22 females, with normal or near-normal hearing thresholds), completed the survey, and 45 of these performed behavioural tasks. Results: Background noise with conversational content was the most common source of hearing difficulties. Participants expended higher concentration and attention when communicating in noise, and correlations with previously published behavioural data was reported. Social impacts varied, few had sought treatment, and respondents preferred training over devices.Conclusions: Insights gained may provide clinicians and researchers with an understanding of the situations, impacts and non-auditory factors associated with listening-in-noise difficulties, and preferred rehabilitation for these clients.
Authors: Emily M H Lundberg; Song Hui Chon; James M Kates; Melinda C Anderson; Kathryn H Arehart Journal: J Speech Lang Hear Res Date: 2020-11-30 Impact factor: 2.297
Authors: Solveig A Arnadottir; Julie Bruce; Ranjit Lall; Emma J Withers; Martin Underwood; Fiona Shaw; Ray Sheridan; Anower Hossain; Sarah E Lamb Journal: BMC Geriatr Date: 2020-01-15 Impact factor: 3.921