Communicating as we age
As we age, the way in which we perceive and process speech may change. Higher-level processes such as working memory, processing speed and auditory function are most important in complex listening situations (such as distinguishing among multiple sound sources) or when the signal is distorted (as can occur with hearing-aid processing that is not optimally adjusted for the listener). Our work in this area aims to understand the relationship between listener age, cognitive ability, and the benefits of different types of sound processing.
For more on this topic, read our recent paper on measuring cognition in adults with hearing loss.
