Right-Ear Advantage for Unaided and Aided Speech Perception in Noise in Older Adults

Behtani, Lydia; Fuente, Adrián; Ianiszewski, Alejandro; Osman, Rida Al

doi:10.5152/jiao.2021.8343

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…A right ear advantage for speech perception has been noted previously, and is thought to reflect both the prevalence of left-hemisphere dominance for language and midline crossing of the ascending auditory system. 53,54 The left ear also appears to be more susceptible to hearing loss assessed with pure tone audiometry, 55–57 which may explain the right-ear advantage for pure tone detection in the current group of tinnitus volunteers, some of whom had hearing loss. This right-ear advantage did not change over time after active tDCS in either task, which is consistent with negative findings in dichotic listening studies of conventional anodal tDCS 58 or unilateral transcranial random noise stimulation 59 of auditory cortex.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Perceptual and cognitive effects of focal tDCS of auditory cortex in tinnitus

Leaver

2024

Preprint

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OBJECTIVESNoninvasive brain stimulation continues to grow as an effective, low-risk way of improving the symptoms of brain conditions. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is particularly well-tolerated, with benefits including low cost and potential portability. Nevertheless, continued study of perceptual and cognitive side effects is warranted, given the complexity of functional brain organization. This paper describes the results of a brief battery of tablet-based tasks used in a recent pilot study of auditory-cortex tDCS in people with chronic tinnitus.METHODSVolunteers with chronic tinnitus (n=20) completed two hearing tasks (pure-tone thresholds, Words In Noise) and two cognitive tasks (Flanker, Dimension Change Card Sort) from the NIH Toolbox. Volunteers were randomized to active or sham 4×1 Ag/AgCl tDCS of auditory cortex, and tasks were completed immediately before and after the first tDCS session, and after the fifth/final tDCS session. Statistics included linear mixed-effects models for change in task performance over time.RESULTSBefore tDCS, performance on both auditory tasks was highly correlated with clinical audiometry, supporting the external validity of these measures (r2>0.89 for all). Although overall auditory task performance did not change after active or sham tDCS, detection of right-ear Words in Noise stimuli modestly improved after five active tDCS sessions (t(34)=-2.07, p=0.05). On cognitive tasks, reaction times were quicker after sham tDCS, reflecting expected practice effects (e.g., t(88)=3.22, p=0.002 after 5 sessions on Flanker task). However, reaction times did not improve over repeated sessions in the active group, suggesting that tDCS interfered with learning these practice effects.CONCLUSIONSRepeated sessions of auditory-cortex tDCS does not appear to adversely affect hearing or cognition, but may modestly improve hearing in noisy environments and interfere with some types of motor learning. Low-burden cognitive/perceptual test batteries could be a powerful way to identify adverse effects and new treatment targets in brain stimulation research.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Perceptual and cognitive effects of focal tDCS of auditory cortex in tinnitus

Leaver

2024

Preprint

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The significance of right ear auditory processing to balance

Putter-Katz

Horev

Yaakobi

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Although the association between balance and hearing thresholds at different frequencies in the right/left ear is crucial, it has received scant empirical attention. Balance is widely ignored when evaluating hearing in adults. This study examined the relative contribution of left versus right ear hearing at different frequencies to balance, and the mediating role of suprathreshold speech perception on age-balance associations. Pure tone hearing thresholds (500–4000 Hz), suprathreshold speech perception, balance, and risk of falling were evaluated in 295 adults. The results indicate that the right ear contributes more to balance than the left ear. This might imply dominance of the left hemisphere in processing hearing cues for balance. Frequencies within the speech range (500/1000/2000 Hz) were correlated with balance and mediated the interaction between age and balance. These results should be considered when tailoring hearing and balance rehabilitation programs.

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