Measuring the Influence of Noise Reduction on Listening Effort in Hearing-Impaired Listeners Using Response Times to an Arithmetic Task in Noise

Abstract

Single microphone noise reduction (NR) in hearing aids can provide a subjective benefit even when there is no objective improvement in speech intelligibility. A possible explanation lies in a reduction of listening effort. Previously, we showed that response times (a proxy for listening effort) to an auditory-only dual-task were reduced by NR in normal-hearing (NH) listeners. In this study, we investigate if the results from NH listeners extend to the hearing-impaired (HI), the target group for hearing aids. In addition, we assess the relevance of the outcome measure for studying and understanding listening effort. Twelve HI subjects were asked to sum two digits of a digit triplet in noise. We measured response times to this task, as well as subjective listening effort and speech intelligibility. Stimuli were presented at three signal-to-noise ratios (SNR; –5, 0, +5 dB) and in quiet. Stimuli were processed with ideal or nonideal NR, or unprocessed. The effect of NR on response times in HI listeners was significant only in conditions where speech intelligibility was also affected (–5 dB SNR). This is in contrast to the previous results with NH listeners. There was a significant effect of SNR on response times for HI listeners. The response time measure was reasonably correlated ( R142 = 0.54) to subjective listening effort and showed a sufficient test–retest reliability. This study thus presents an objective, valid, and reliable measure for evaluating an aspect of listening effort of HI listeners.

Sensorineural hearing loss and cognitive impairment: three hypotheses

“…Studies related to the use of hearing aids ( Qian et al, 2016 ; Bucholc et al, 2022 ) and cochlear implants ( Mertens et al, 2021 ) have demonstrated that as hearing aids and cochlear implants help to restore auditory perception, the onset of CI is delayed. It is hypothesized that hearing aids ( Reinten et al, 2021 ) and cochlear implants ( Chatterjee et al, 2023 ) improve the “effortful process” of sound discrimination in the daily lives of SNHL patients, and that this change reduces the previous over-allocation of cognitive resources, helping to restore balance in the CL.…”

Test–Retest Reliability and the Role of Task Instructions when Measuring Listening Effort Using a Verbal Response Time Paradigm

“…Test-retest reliability of listening effort measures (e.g., dual-task, pupillometry) has been evaluated using a variety of analyses: most commonly intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Pearson's product moment correlation. 16,[45][46][47][48][49][50] Importantly, these two calculations measure relative reliability, not absolute reliability. Relative reliability describes the measurement's ability to rank order individuals under conditions of repeated measurement-providing a statistic of the variability of participants in a study.…”