Age-Dependent Changes in Temporal-Fine-Structure Processing in the Absence of Peripheral Hearing Loss
Age-Dependent Changes in Temporal-Fine-Structure Processing in the Absence of Peripheral Hearing Loss
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DOI：
10.1044/1059-0889(2013/12-0070
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发表时间：
2013-12-01
影响因子：
1.8
通讯作者：
Fuellgrabe, Christian
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Fuellgrabe, Christian
目的：在本研究中，作者试图调查听力正常听力敏感度的成年人处理时间精细结构 (TFS) 线索的能力是否以及何时会随着年龄的增长而恶化。 方法：作者采用横断面设计，对从整个成年期（18-90 岁）抽取的 102 名听力正常成年人进行了 TFS 敏感度评估，使用 2 项心理物理学测试来评估听力敏感度正常的成年人的 TFS 敏感度。 对耳内和跨耳 TFS 处理的评估。结果：两种类型的 TFS 敏感性（单耳和双耳）从成年早期开始逐渐下降，最早的显着缺陷在中年早期（即 40 岁至 49 岁之间）就已经明显显现。 TFS 灵敏度与测试频率的绝对灵敏度不相关。结论：即使个体的周边听力在临床上正常，一些阈上听觉处理能力在整个成年期都会下降。这些缺陷无法通过传统的听力测试来捕获，但随着年龄的增长，在嘈杂的环境中识别语音可能会变得越来越困难。从方法论的角度来看，这种年龄效应的存在需要在比较正常和受损的周围听力时使用年龄匹配的参与者群体。
Purpose: In this study, the author sought to investigate if and when the ability to process temporal-fine-structure (TFS) cues deteriorates with age in adults with audiometrically normal hearing sensitivity.Method: Using a cross-sectional design, the author assessed TFS sensitivity in 102 normal-hearing adults sampled from across the entire range of adulthood (ages 18-90 years), using 2 psychophysical tests for the assessment of within-and across-ear TFS processing.Results: Both types of TFS sensitivity (monaural and binaural) declined gradually starting in young adulthood, with the earliest significant deficit already apparent in early midlife (i.e., between ages 40 and 49 years). TFS sensitivity was not correlated with absolute sensitivity at the test frequency.Conclusions: Some suprathreshold auditory processing abilities decline throughout adulthood, even when an individual's peripheral hearing is clinically normal. These deficits are not captured by a conventional, audiometric hearing assessment but may contribute to the increasing difficulties with age to identify speech in noisy environments. From a methodological point of view, the existence of such age effects warrants the use of age-matched participant groups when comparing normal and impaired peripheral hearing.