Meister Hartmut, Schreitmüller Stefan, Grugel Linda, Beutner Dirk, Walger Martin, Meister Ingo
Am J Audiol. 2013 Dec;22(2):310-2. doi: 10.1044/1059-0889(2012/12-0067).
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of cognitive functions (i.e., working memory [WM]) and speech recognition against different background maskers in older individuals.
Speech reception thresholds (SRTs) were determined using a matrix-sentence test. Unmodulated noise, modulated noise (International Collegium for Rehabilitative Audiology [ICRA] noise 5-250), and speech fragments (International Speech Test Signal [ISTS]) were used as background maskers. Verbal WM was assessed using the Verbal Learning and Memory Test (VLMT; Helmstaedter & Durwen, 1990). Measurements were conducted with 14 normal-hearing older individuals and a control group of 12 normal-hearing young listeners.
Despite their normal hearing ability, the young listeners outperformed the older individuals in all background maskers. These differences were largest for the modulated maskers. SRTs were significantly correlated with the scores of the VLMT. A linear regression model also included WM as the only significant predictor variable.
The results support the assumption that WM plays an important role for speech understanding and that it might have impact on results obtained using speech audiometry. Thus, an individual's WM capacity should be considered with aural diagnosis and rehabilitation. The VLMT proved to be a clinically applicable test for WM. Further cognitive functions important with speech understanding are currently being investigated within the SAKoLA (Sprachaudiometrie und kognitive Leistungen im Alter [Speech Audiometry and Cognitive Functions in the Elderly]) project.
本研究旨在调查老年人认知功能（即工作记忆[WM]）与在不同背景掩蔽音下言语识别之间的关系。
使用矩阵句子测试确定言语接受阈值（SRT）。未调制噪声、调制噪声（国际康复听力学协会[ICRA]噪声5 - 250）和言语片段（国际言语测试信号[ISTS]）用作背景掩蔽音。使用言语学习和记忆测试（VLMT；Helmstaedter & Durwen，1990）评估言语工作记忆。对14名听力正常的老年人和12名听力正常的年轻听众组成的对照组进行测量。
尽管两组听力正常，但年轻听众在所有背景掩蔽音下的表现均优于老年人。这些差异在调制掩蔽音下最为明显。SRT与VLMT得分显著相关。线性回归模型还将工作记忆作为唯一显著的预测变量。
结果支持以下假设，即工作记忆在言语理解中起重要作用，并且可能对使用言语测听法获得的结果产生影响。因此，在听力诊断和康复中应考虑个体的工作记忆能力。VLMT被证明是一种临床上可应用于工作记忆的测试。目前正在SAKoLA（老年人言语测听与认知功能[Sprachaudiometrie und kognitive Leistungen im Alter]）项目中研究与言语理解相关的其他重要认知功能。
