Cognitive Measures Explain Variance in Speech-in-Noise Among Older Adults

Abstract

Binaural hearing, the ability to hear with two ears, helps individuals localize sound and understand speech in noisy environments. As individuals age, speech-in-noise understanding becomes more difficult, and this decline has been linked to both auditory and cognitive changes. This study investigates how processing speed, the rate at which the brain processes and receives stimuli, affects speech-in-noise understanding. The Coordinate Response Measure (CRM) evaluates how well a person separates speech from background noise. We hypothesized that individuals with higher processing speed would exhibit better speech-in-noise ability, with age acting as a moderator. Processing speed was measured with the NIH Pattern Comparison test, and binaural hearing abilities were assessed with CRM.

Results revealed that higher Pattern Comparison scores significantly predicted better speech-in-noise recognition at 45° (p = 0.00026, R² = 0.478), suggesting that processing speed plays a role in spatial listening ability. However, when age was added to the model, Pattern Comparison was no longer a significant predictor (p = 0.5675), and age itself became the dominant predictor of performance (p = 0.0129). This indicates that age may act as a confounding factor in cognitive influences on speech-in-noise recognition.

These findings highlight the role of cognitive factors in spatial and speech processing, particularly in more complex listening environments. Future research should explore how cognitive training can enhance binaural hearing, particularly in older individuals, and whether targeted interventions can improve spatial listening abilities.