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Auditory training can improve working memory, attention, and communication in adverse conditions for adults with hearing loss

Ferguson, Melanie A.; Henshaw, Helen

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Authors

Melanie A. Ferguson



Abstract

Auditory training (AT) helps compensate for degradation in the auditory signal. A series of three high-quality training studies are discussed, which include, (i) a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of phoneme discrimination in quiet that trained adults with mild hearing loss (n = 44), (ii) a repeated measures study that trained phoneme discrimination in noise in hearing aid (HA) users (n = 30), and (iii) a double-blind RCT that directly trained working memory (WM) in HA users (n = 57). AT resulted in generalized improvements in measures of self-reported hearing, competing speech, and complex cognitive tasks that all index executive functions. This suggests that for AT related benefits, the development of complex cognitive skills may be more important than the refinement of sensory processing. Furthermore, outcome measures should be sensitive to the functional benefits of AT. For WM training, lack of far-transfer to untrained outcomes suggests no generalized benefits to real-world listening abilities. We propose that combined auditory-cognitive training approaches, where cognitive enhancement is embedded within auditory tasks, are most likely to offer generalized benefits to the real-world listening abilities of adults with hearing loss.

Citation

Ferguson, M. A., & Henshaw, H. (2015). Auditory training can improve working memory, attention, and communication in adverse conditions for adults with hearing loss. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, Article 556. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00556

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 16, 2015
Publication Date May 28, 2015
Deposit Date Dec 14, 2016
Publicly Available Date Dec 14, 2016
Journal Frontiers in Psychology
Electronic ISSN 1664-1078
Publisher Frontiers Media
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 6
Article Number 556
DOI https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00556
Keywords Auditory training, Hearing loss, Working memory, Attention, Communication, Hearing aids, Executive function, Speech perception
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/751120
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00556
Additional Information This Document is Protected by copyright and was first published by Frontiers. All rights reserved. it is reproduced with permission.
Contract Date Dec 14, 2016

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