AGING AND SPEECH COMPREHENSION IN DISTRACTING CONDITIONS

描述(改编自《调查者摘要》)：长远目标 这项研究计划的目的是调查与最大化有关的因素 心烦意乱下与老年人的口语交流 相互竞争的听觉刺激。拟议中的实验将系统地 调查促进和贬低言语的因素 老年人在分心条件下的理解和记忆。 这项工作是由当前的认知老化理论指导的，该理论表明 与年龄相关的对分心刺激易感性的增加可能 降低老年人的功能处理能力(Hasher&Zack， (1988年)。在将该假设扩展到语音处理领域时， 拟议的研究将探索该模型作为一种 认知老化的机制，以及增加我们的实践 如何与老年人有效沟通的知识。 具体地说，这些实验将调查听觉的影响 对有意义的连通言语理解和记忆的分心 在成年期，由于言语信息的不同特征， 相互竞争的声音、听众和任务。年轻人和老年人 具有正常听觉阈值的人会听到各种语音 以竞争的背景声音呈现的材料，然后进行测试 对材料的回忆和理解，以及反应的速度。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from Investigator's Abstract): The long-range goal of this research program is to investigate factors involved in maximizing spoken communication with elderly adults under the distraction of competing auditory stimuli. The proposed experiments will systematically investigate factors that both facilitate and detract from speech comprehension and memory in the elderly under distracting conditions. This work is guided by current theory of cognitive aging that suggests that an age-related increase in susceptibility to distracting stimuli may reduce the functional processing capacity of the elderly (Hasher & Zacks, 1988). In extending this hypothesis to the realm of speech processing, the proposed research will probe the generalizability of the model as a mechanism of cognitive aging, as well as adding to our practical knowledge of how to communicate effectively with the elderly. Specifically, these experiments will investigate the effects of auditory distraction on comprehension and memory for meaningful connected speech in adulthood, by varying characteristics of the speech message, the competing sounds, the listener, and the task. Young and older adults with normal auditory thresholds will listen to a variety of speech materials presented with competing background sounds, then be tested for recall and comprehension of materials, as well as speed of responses.