Active Research

Principal Investigator: Erick Gallun, Ph.D.

Objective: To examine the basic processes underlying the ability to make multiple rapid auditory judgments. The hypotheses to be tested are that the primary limitations in making multiple judgments involve: 1) short-term memory processes; and 2) sharing resources within and between auditory processing mechanisms. It is anticipated that even mild hearing impairment will impact these processes and that the impact of aging may be quite profound. 

Background: Listeners in constantly changing noisy environments often experience more difficulties than when the same noise level is present but the environment is not changing as rapidly. This is a particular problem for those with even mild hearing loss. Recent work on the ability of hearing-impaired listeners to process rapid, noisy speech has identified deficits independent of the ability to understand and remember more clearly presented speech. 

Findings: Improving understanding of the processes by which a rapidly changing auditory environment is analyzed by listeners with impaired hearing will lead to improved creation of appropriate therapies and devices to reduce the difficulties such listeners’ experience.