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Encoding of a binaural speech stimulus at the brainstem level in middle-aged adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 November 2020

A K Neupane ,
S K Sinha  and
K Gururaj
A K Neupane*
Affiliation:
School of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, India
S K Sinha
Affiliation:
Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore, India
K Gururaj
Affiliation:
Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore, India
*
Author for correspondence: Mr Anuj Kumar Neupane, School of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, India E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective

Binaural hearing is facilitated by neural interactions in the auditory pathway. Ageing results in impairment of localisation and listening in noisy situations without any significant hearing loss. The present study focused on comparing the binaural encoding of a speech stimulus at the subcortical level in middle-aged versus younger adults, based on speech-evoked auditory brainstem responses.

Methods

Thirty participants (15 young adults and 15 middle-aged adults) with normal hearing sensitivity (less than 15 dB HL) participated in the study. The speech-evoked auditory brainstem response was recorded monaurally and binaurally with a 40-ms /da/ stimulus. Fast Fourier transform analysis was utilised.

Results

An independent sample t-test revealed a significant difference between the two groups in fundamental frequency (F0) amplitude recorded with binaural stimulation.

Conclusion

The present study suggested that ageing results in degradation of F0 encoding, which is essential for the perception of speech in noise.

Keywords

Binaural HearingBinaural AdvantageAgingFundamental Frequency
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 134 , Issue 12 , December 2020 , pp. 1044 - 1051
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Mr A K Neupane takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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