Training for the Enhancement of Speech-In-Noise Processing Ability in Older Adults

项目摘要 正常的衰老与在不利的听力条件下理解言语的困难有关，并可能导致 老年人的问题，如社会孤立，焦虑，抑郁和生活质量下降。整体 本项目的目标是减弱噪声中语音（SPIN）处理中表现出的与年龄相关的衰退， 老年人使用音乐训练和有针对性的计算机认知训练相比，社会，无培训 控制大量的文献表明，至少有两种类型的噪声，其中语音清晰度可以是 退化：能量和信息噪音。当噪声在频谱时间上 与语音信号重叠（例如，建筑工地附近），而信息掩蔽的结果时， 噪声包含超出与语音信号的频谱-时间重叠的信息（例如，当一个响亮的 对话者在您的对话附近）。几种认知过程与SPIN感知有关， 如听觉工作记忆、听觉注意力和处理速度;以及知觉过程， 如时间处理和间隙检测。重要的是，老年人往往更依赖认知资源， 比年轻人在测试信息掩蔽自旋处理。此外，大量文献 表明，音乐训练不仅与SPIN能力的增强有关，而且与感知和 认知能力为了实现我们的总体目标，我们有两个目标：1）量化训练对SPIN的影响 2）量化SPIN处理中训练相关收益的潜在因素。在 服务于第一个目标，我们将钢琴课的效果进行比较，有针对性地进行电脑认知训练 SPIN能力的基本技能，以及SPIN处理的社会参与会议对照组。 将在培训前、三个月和培训后对这些变量进行测量。服务于 第二个目标，我们将测量老年人的认知和感知能力以及人口统计信息 在三个测试时间中的每一个。我们将研究如何在SPIN处理的可变性可能是占 人口统计学、认知能力和感知能力及其对每个人SPIN处理的介导作用 实验条件下，采用结构方程建模和中介分析。完成后 项目概述在这个建议，我们将更好地了解培训方法，不仅可以用来 减弱与年龄相关的噪音中的语音处理能力下降，但也为老年人提供长期的 和可持续发展的工具。

Project Summary Normal aging is associated with difficulty understanding speech in adverse listening conditions and can lead to problems for the elderly such as social isolation, anxiety, depression, and diminished quality of life. The overall goal of this project is to attenuate the age-related decline exhibited in speech-in-noise (SPIN) processing in older adults using music training and targeted computerized cognitive training compared to a social, no-training control. A large literature suggests there are at least two types of noise in which speech intelligibility can be degraded: energetic and informational noise. Energetic masking results when the noise spectro-temporally overlaps with the speech signal (e.g., near a construction site), whereas informational masking results when the noise contains information beyond spectro-temporal overlap with the speech signal (e.g., when a loud talker is near your conversation). Several cognitive processes have been implicated in SPIN perception such as auditory working memory, auditory attention, and processing speed; as well as perceptual processes such as temporal processing and gap detection. Importantly, older adults tend to rely on cognitive resources more than young adults during tests of informational masking SPIN processing. Additionally, an expansive literature suggests that music training is associated with enhancements in not only SPIN ability, but also perceptual and cognitive abilities. To achieve our overall goal, we have two aims: 1) quantify the effect of training on SPIN processing in older adults, and 2) quantify the factors underlying training-related gains in SPIN processing. In service of the first aim, we will compare the effects of piano lessons, targeted computerized cognitive training of the skills underlying SPIN ability, and a social engagement meet-up control group on SPIN processing. Measurements of these variables will be taken at pre-training, three months, and post-training. In service of the second aim, we will measure cognitive and perceptual abilities and demographic information in the older adults at each of the three testing times. We will examine how variability in SPIN processing may be accounted for by demographics, cognitive ability, and perceptual ability and their mediation of SPIN processing in each experimental condition using structural equation modeling and mediation analyses. Upon completion of the project outlined in this proposal, we will better understand training methods that can be used to not only attenuate the age-related decline in speech-in-noise processing, but also provide older adults with a long-term and sustainable tool for healthy aging.