Unsuccessful use of binaural amplification by an elderly person.

An elderly person who preferred and performed better with monaural than with binaural amplification was extensively studied, both audiologically and neuropsychologically, in search of an explanation for the phenomenon. Particular emphasis was placed on the study of dichotic speech perception, both behaviorally and electrophysiologically. Results suggest that age-related changes in interhemispheric transfer of auditory input via corpus callosum may underlie the preference for monaural amplification. Implications for the evaluation of amplification potential in elderly persons are discussed.