Spatial Hearing in Elderly People with Central Auditory Processing Disorders of Different Origins
摘要
Central auditory processing disorders (CAPD), primarily caused by age-related changes in peripheral hearing, are often associated with age-related cerebrovascular accidents and cognitive impairment. The present study compared spatial and speech hearing in patients with chronic mild sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and CAPD, with and without a history of acute cerebrovascular accident (ACVA). Thirty elderly and senile patients were examined using a dichotic numbers test, a binaural alternating speech test, tests of intelligibility of heterosyllabic words in quiet and noise, and the spatial hearing questionnaire (SHQ). Mean speech test scores in the two groups of patients were similar, with no significant difference. Use of the SHQ revealed significant differences between the study groups. Correlations were found between SHQ and speech test scores, and a strong relationship between speech and spatial hearing was found in the group with a history of ACVA.