Abstract
Synaptic connections in the auditory system change throughout life in response to the changing acoustic environment. These changes help to compensate for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and the consequent impairment of high-frequency hearing by enhancing the efficiency of synaptic transmission of low-frequency signals. They also help to compensate for the inevitable deterioration in the central auditory system that occurs with normal aging even without clinically significant hearing loss. However, in many cases the neuroplastic changes are insufficient to maintain optimal speech comprehension. Indeed, the enhanced transmission of low-frequency phonetic cues that occurs with longstanding SNHL may interfere with a patient's ability to use the high-frequency phonetic cues that are restored by hearing aids. Adaptive perceptual training using tasks that require high-frequency phonetic cue processing can drive neuroplastic change in auditory cortex to improve speech discrimination. The authors tested the benefits of at-home personal computer-based phoneme identification training in new hearing aid (HA) users and found that it produced significant benefit in phoneme identification by reducing phonetic confusions and enhancing the patient's abilities to identify previously difficult syllables. Perceptual training is a promising and cost-effective tool for enhancing speech perception in HA users who have difficulty in understanding everyday speech.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 110-119 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Seminars in Hearing |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 2007 |
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Keywords
- Adaptive learning
- Computer-based training
- Hearing aids
- Neuroplasticity
- Phonemes
- Speech perception
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Otorhinolaryngology
Cite this
Perceptual training of phoneme identification for hearing loss. / Woods, David L; Yund, E. William.
In: Seminars in Hearing, Vol. 28, No. 2, 05.2007, p. 110-119.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceptual training of phoneme identification for hearing loss
AU - Woods, David L
AU - Yund, E. William
PY - 2007/5
Y1 - 2007/5
N2 - Synaptic connections in the auditory system change throughout life in response to the changing acoustic environment. These changes help to compensate for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and the consequent impairment of high-frequency hearing by enhancing the efficiency of synaptic transmission of low-frequency signals. They also help to compensate for the inevitable deterioration in the central auditory system that occurs with normal aging even without clinically significant hearing loss. However, in many cases the neuroplastic changes are insufficient to maintain optimal speech comprehension. Indeed, the enhanced transmission of low-frequency phonetic cues that occurs with longstanding SNHL may interfere with a patient's ability to use the high-frequency phonetic cues that are restored by hearing aids. Adaptive perceptual training using tasks that require high-frequency phonetic cue processing can drive neuroplastic change in auditory cortex to improve speech discrimination. The authors tested the benefits of at-home personal computer-based phoneme identification training in new hearing aid (HA) users and found that it produced significant benefit in phoneme identification by reducing phonetic confusions and enhancing the patient's abilities to identify previously difficult syllables. Perceptual training is a promising and cost-effective tool for enhancing speech perception in HA users who have difficulty in understanding everyday speech.
AB - Synaptic connections in the auditory system change throughout life in response to the changing acoustic environment. These changes help to compensate for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and the consequent impairment of high-frequency hearing by enhancing the efficiency of synaptic transmission of low-frequency signals. They also help to compensate for the inevitable deterioration in the central auditory system that occurs with normal aging even without clinically significant hearing loss. However, in many cases the neuroplastic changes are insufficient to maintain optimal speech comprehension. Indeed, the enhanced transmission of low-frequency phonetic cues that occurs with longstanding SNHL may interfere with a patient's ability to use the high-frequency phonetic cues that are restored by hearing aids. Adaptive perceptual training using tasks that require high-frequency phonetic cue processing can drive neuroplastic change in auditory cortex to improve speech discrimination. The authors tested the benefits of at-home personal computer-based phoneme identification training in new hearing aid (HA) users and found that it produced significant benefit in phoneme identification by reducing phonetic confusions and enhancing the patient's abilities to identify previously difficult syllables. Perceptual training is a promising and cost-effective tool for enhancing speech perception in HA users who have difficulty in understanding everyday speech.
KW - Adaptive learning
KW - Computer-based training
KW - Hearing aids
KW - Neuroplasticity
KW - Phonemes
KW - Speech perception
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34247631012&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34247631012&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1055/s-2007-973437
DO - 10.1055/s-2007-973437
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:34247631012
VL - 28
SP - 110
EP - 119
JO - Seminars in Hearing
JF - Seminars in Hearing
SN - 0734-0451
IS - 2
ER -