The Impact of Mild Hearing Loss on Auditory Perception in Complex Environments

拟议研究的总体目标是改善复杂环境中的通信接入 轻度/轻度听力损失儿童的听力环境(CMMHL)。这些孩子们经历了 在噪音和混响中的言语感知困难比听力正常的儿童(CNH)更大，如 以及在言语/语言发展和教育进步方面可能出现的延误。MMHL可能会降低 听觉体验的数量和质量。这是声环境、听力提高的综合影响 阈值，以及缺少或限制使用扩音器，很可能会在 听觉技能的发展。其结果将是对基本听觉技能的累积负面影响 对于理解复杂声学环境中的语音非常重要。如果这些技能不成熟， CMMHL将需要投入更多的认知努力来理解Speechi，留下更少的资源用于 其他复杂的过程。视觉信息的使用也可能影响语音理解。研究 检查听觉技能(分组、选择性/分散注意力、说话者定位)和视听语音 CMMHL的知觉是有限的。必须记录CMMHL与CNH在这些方面的比较 技能。目标1中的研究将检验听觉技能对纯听觉和非听觉语言感知的影响 视听条件。这些信息(1)将增加我们对听觉和听觉的使用的理解 在复杂环境中倾听的多模式技能和(2)识别可能处于更高风险的CMMHL 为了解决困难。要理解听觉技能和真实世界听力之间的相互作用，重要的是 在复杂的听力任务中检查现实环境中的表现。仅限实验室研究 提供这些环境的近似值，在实际教室中进行测试缺乏实验控制 由于它们的活跃性质。目标2下的研究纳入了具有代表性的主动学习任务 在提供合理课堂模拟的新型实验室环境中进行课堂活动 环境。这些研究的结果(1)将确定应对多感官的有效策略 投入和(2)将导致CMMHL提供服务的方式发生重大变化。

The overall goal of the proposed research is to improve communication access in complex listening environments for children with minimal/mild hearing loss (CMMHL). These children experience greater speech-perception difficulties in noise and reverberation than children with normal hearing (CNH), as well as potential delays in speech/language development and educational progress. MMHL may reduce the quantity and quality of auditory experiences. Thie combined effects of acoustic environment, elevated hearing thresholds, and the lack or limited use of amplification are likely to produce inconsistent audibility during auditory-skill development. The result will be a cumulative negative effect on fundamental auditory skills that are important for understanding speech in acoustically complex environments. If these skills are immature, CMMHL will need to devote greater cognitive effort to understanding speechi, leaving fewer resources for other complex processes. The use of visual information also may impact speech understanding. Research examining auditory skills (grouping, selective/divided attention, talker localization) and audiovisual speech perception are limited with CMMHL. It is essential to document how CMMHL compare to CNH on these skills. Studies in Aim 1 will examine the impact of auditory skills for speech perception in auditory-only and audiovisual conditions. This information (1) will increase our understanding of the use of auditory and multimodal skills for listening in complex environments and (2) identify CMMHL who may be at greater risk for difficulties. To appreciate the interaction between auditory skills and real-worid listening, it is important to examine performance in realistic environments during complex listening tasks. Laboratory studies only provide an approximation of these environments and testing in actual classrooms lacks experimental control due to their active nature. The studies under Aim 2 incorporate active learning tasks representative of typical classroom activities within a novel laboratory environment that provides simulation of plausible classroom environments. The results of these studies (1) will identify effective strategies for coping with multi-sensory input and (2) will lead to significant changes in ttie ways CMMHL are served.