AGING AND SPEECH COMPREHENSION IN DISTRACTING CONDITIONS

描述（改编自研究者摘要）：长期目标 这项研究计划的目的是调查最大化 在分心的情况下与老年人进行口头交流 竞争性听觉刺激 拟议的实验将系统地 研究促进和削弱语言的因素 注意力分散条件下老年人的理解和记忆。 这项工作是由当前的认知老化理论指导的， 与年龄相关的易受分心刺激的增加可能 降低老年人的功能处理能力（Hasher和Zacks， 1988年）。 在将这一假设扩展到语音处理领域时， 拟议的研究将探讨该模型作为一个 认知老化的机制，以及增加我们的实际 如何有效地与老年人沟通。 具体来说，这些实验将研究听觉的影响， 对有意义连接言语理解和记忆的干扰 在成年期，通过言语信息的不同特征， 竞争的声音，听众和任务。 年轻人和老年人 听力正常的人会听到各种各样的声音 材料与竞争的背景声音，然后进行测试 记忆和理解材料，以及反应速度。

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.