Auditory Information Processing and Functional Correlates

Abstract

Many adults report difficulty understanding speech in the presence of competing noise in spite of having normal audiometric thresholds. Possible factors contributing to this variability in perceived speech in noise (SPIN) performance are auditory mechanisms such as temporal processing and dichotic listening, as well as supramodal processes of attention and working memory. Clinically, behavioral tests are used to assess SPIN performance, but self-report questionnaires provide an alternative way to identify specific listening deficits. The goal of this study is to explore the variability observed among a number of different measures of auditory processing, the correspondence between the measures, and to identify underlying factors that contribute to overall speech-in-noise performance in a group of normal hearing individuals (n=20). A combination of behavioral tests and self-report questionnaires were administered. Principal Component analysis was used to examine the variability observed in the total set of measures and reduce the variability to a smaller set of factors. Factor analysis revealed six extracted components accounting for 81% of total variance that were determined to represent “Working Memory”, “Temporal Processing”, “Dichotic Listening”, “Anxiety”, “Self-Report Deficits”, and possibly “Concentration”. It was determined that working memory is a likely underlying factor affecting clinical speech in noise test performance in this sample of individuals. Additionally it was discovered that self-report questionnaires do not “co-load” onto components with behavioral measures, revealing that they are assessing different elements of auditory function and add value to test batteries.