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Effects of aging on spatial hearing

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Abstract

Background

Aging has several effects on auditory processing with the most important effect known as speech perception impairment in noise.

Aims

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of aging on spatial hearing using quick speech in noise (QSIN) and binaural masking level difference (BMLD) tests and speech, spatial, and qualities of hearing scale (SSQ) questionnaire.

Methods

The study was carried out on 34 elderly people, aged 60–75 years, with normal peripheral hearing and 34 young participants, aged 18–25 years. Using SSQ questionnaire and QSIN and BMLD tests, the spatial auditory processing ability was compared between the two groups.

Results

Comparison of mean scores using independent t test showed that there was a significant difference in the mean scores of QSIN, BMLD tests and SSQ questionnaire between the two groups (p < 0.001). Sex was not found to have any effect on the results (p > 0.05).

Discussion

Structural and neurochemical changes that occur in different parts of the central nervous system by aging affect various aspects of spatial auditory processing, such as localization, the precedence effect, and speech perception in noise.

Conclusions

Lower scores of older adults with normal hearing in SSQ questionnaire and behavioral tests, compared with younger participants, may be considered as their weak performance in spatial auditory processing. The results of the present study reconfirm the effects of aging on spatial auditory processing, such as localization and speech perception in noise.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to appreciate Yas Elderly Care Center and Health Home of Tehran Municipality, and all other participants of the current study for their cooperation.

Funding

The study was supported by Grant no. 97-02-32-38674 from Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mansoureh Adel Ghahraman, Majid Ashrafi & Ghassem Mohammadkhani

  2. Biostatistics, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Shohreh Jalaie

Authors
  1. Mansoureh Adel Ghahraman
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  2. Majid Ashrafi
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  3. Ghassem Mohammadkhani
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  4. Shohreh Jalaie
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ghassem Mohammadkhani.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical approval

This article is based on a PhD dissertation by Majid Ashrafi. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, coded as IR TUMS FNM REC 1397 025.

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All patients were informed about the nature of the study and a written informed consent was obtained.

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Adel Ghahraman, M., Ashrafi, M., Mohammadkhani, G. et al. Effects of aging on spatial hearing. Aging Clin Exp Res 32, 733–739 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01233-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01233-3

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