Auditory brainstem response to complex sounds predicts self-reported speech-in-noise performance

Samira Anderson*, Alexandra Parbery-Clark, Travis White-Schwoch, Nina Kraus

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

83 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the ability of the auditory brainstem response to complex sounds (cABR) to predict subjective ratings of speech understanding in noise on the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ; Gatehouse & Noble, 2004) relative to the predictive ability of the Quick Speech-in-Noise test (QuickSIN; Killion, Niquette, Gudmundsen, Revit, & Banerjee, 2004) and pure-tone hearing thresholds. Method: Participants included 111middle- to older-age adults (range = 45-78) with audiometric configurations ranging from normal hearing levels to moderate sensorineural hearing loss. In addition to using audiometric testing, the authors also used such evaluation measures as the QuickSIN, the SSQ, and the cABR. Results: Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the inclusion of brainstem variables in a model with QuickSIN, hearing thresholds, and age accounted for 30% of the variance in the Speech subtest of the SSQ, compared with significantly less variance (19%) when brainstem variables were not included. Conclusion: The authors' results demonstrate the cABR's efficacy for predicting self-reported speech-in-noise perception difficulties. The fact that the cABR predicts more variance in self-reported speechin- noise (SIN) perception than either the QuickSIN or hearing thresholds indicates that the cABR provides additional insight into an individual's ability to hear in background noise. In addition, the findings underscore the link between the cABR and hearing in noise.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)31-43
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
Volume56
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013

Keywords

  • Aging
  • Brainstem
  • Central auditory processing
  • Clinical audiology
  • Electrophysiology
  • Speech perception
  • Speech-in-noise perception

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Speech and Hearing
  • Language and Linguistics
  • Linguistics and Language

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