Aging and Speech Understanding

Overview

Journal J Audiol Otol

Specialty Otorhinolaryngology

Date 2015 Jul 18

PMID 26185785

Citations 14

Authors

Ji Young Lee

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

As people age, structural as well as neural degeneration occurs throughout the auditory system. Many older adults experience difficulty in understanding speech especially in adverse listening conditions although they can hear speech sounds. According to a report of the Committee on Hearing and Bioacoustics and Biomechanics of the National Research Council, peripheral, central-auditory, and cognitive systems have long been considered major factors affecting the understanding of speech. The present study aims to review 1) age-related changes in the peripheral, central-auditory, and cognitive systems, 2) the resulting decline in the understanding of speech, and 3) the clinical implication for audiologic rehabilitation of older adults. Once the factors affecting the understanding of speech in older adults are identified and the characteristics of age-related speech understanding difficulties are examined, clinical management could be developed for prevention and treatment. Future research about problems related to the understanding of speech in older adults will help to improve the quality of life in the elderly.

Citing Articles

Cross-Sectional Associations of Peripheral Hearing, Brain Imaging, and Cognitive Performance With Speech-in-Noise Performance: The Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Ancillary Study.

Jiang K, Albert M, Coresh J, Couper D, Gottesman R, Hayden K Am J Audiol. 2024; 33(3):683-694.

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A review of auditory processing and cognitive change during normal ageing, and the implications for setting hearing aids for older adults.

Windle R, Dillon H, Heinrich A Front Neurol. 2023; 14:1122420.

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Talk like me: Exploring the feedback speech rate regulation strategy of the voice user interface for elderly people.

Wang J, Yang S, Xu Z Front Psychol. 2023; 14:1119355.

PMID: 37123298 PMC: 10132265. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1119355.

An optically-guided cochlear implant sheath for real-time monitoring of electrode insertion into the human cochlea.

Starovoyt A, Quirk B, Putzeys T, Kerckhofs G, Nuyts J, Wouters J Sci Rep. 2022; 12(1):19234.

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Using Different Error Handling Strategies to Facilitate Older Users' Interaction With Chatbots in Learning Information and Communication Technologies.

Lin W, Chen H, Yueh H Front Psychol. 2021; 12:785815.

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