| 1. |
- Kilman, Lisa, et al.
(author)
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Episodic long-term memory by native and non-native stories masked by speech
- 2015
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The purpose of the current study was to investigate how well normal-hearing adults recalled Swedish (native) and English (non-native) fictional stories masked by speech in Swedish and English. Each story was 15 min long and divided into three parts of 5 min each. One part was masked by Swedish speech, one by English speech and one was presented unmasked as a baseline. Audibility was rated immediately after listening to each fragment. Episodic long-term memory was assessed using 24 multiple choice questions (4AFC). Every 8 questions corresponded to 5 min of recorded story and included 4 simple and 4 complex questions. Participants also performed complex span test of working memory capacity and proficiency tests in Swedish and English. The main result was that the stories in quiet were significantly better recalled than the stories masked by Swedish. Although the stimuli were correctly identified at the perceptual level, challenging listening
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| 2. |
- Kilman, Lisa, et al.
(author)
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Subjective ratings of masker disturbance during the perception of native and non-native speech
- 2015
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In: Frontiers in Psychology. - : Frontiers. - 1664-1078. ; 6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to address how 43 normal-hearing (NH) and hearing-impaired (HI) listeners subjectively experienced the disturbance generated by four masker conditions (i.e., stationary noise, fluctuating noise, Swedish two-talker babble and English two-talker babble) while listening to speech in two target languages, i.e., Swedish (native) or English (non-native). The participants were asked to evaluate their noise-disturbance experience on a continuous scale from 0 to 10 immediately after having performed each listening condition. The data demonstrated a three-way interaction effect between target language, masker condition, and group (HI versus NH). The HI listeners experienced the Swedish-babble masker as significantly more disturbing for the native target language (Swedish) than for the non-native language (English). Additionally, this masker was significantly more disturbing than each of the other masker types during the perception of Swedish target speech. The NH listeners, on the other hand, indicated that the Swedish speech-masker was more disturbing than the stationary and the fluctuating noise-maskers for the perception of English target speech. The NH listeners perceived more disturbance from the speech maskers than the noise maskers. The HI listeners did not perceive the speech maskers as generally more disturbing than the noise maskers. However, they had particular difficulty with the perception of native speech masked by native babble, a common condition in daily-life listening conditions. These results suggest that the characteristics of the different maskers applied in the current study seem to affect the perceived disturbance differently in HI and NH listeners. There was no general difference in the perceived disturbance across conditions between the HI listeners and the NH listeners.
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| 3. |
- Koelewijn, Thomas, et al.
(author)
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The effect of monetary reward on listening effort and sentence recognition
- 2021
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In: Hearing Research. - : Elsevier. - 0378-5955 .- 1878-5891. ; 406
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recently we showed that higher reward results in increased pupil dilation during listening (listening effort). Remarkably, this effect was not accompanied with improved speech reception. Still, increased listening effort may reflect more in-depth processing, potentially resulting in a better memory representation of speech. Here, we investigated this hypothesis by also testing the effect of monetary reward on recognition memory performance. Twenty-four young adults performed speech reception threshold (SRT) tests, either hard or easy, in which they repeated sentences uttered by a female talker masked by a male talker. We recorded the pupil dilation response during listening. Participants could earn a high or low reward and the four conditions were presented in a blocked fashion. After each SRT block, participants performed a visual sentence recognition task. In this task, the sentences that were presented in the preceding SRT task were visually presented in random order and intermixed with unfamiliar sentences. Participants had to indicate whether they had previously heard the sentence or not. The SRT and sentence recognition were affected by task difficulty but not by reward. Contrary to our previous results, peak pupil dilation did not reflect effects of reward. However, post-hoc time course analysis (GAMMs) revealed that in the hard SRT task, the pupil response was larger for high than low reward. We did not observe an effect of reward on visual sentence recognition. Hence, the current results provide no conclusive evidence that the effect of monetary reward on the pupil response relates to the memory encoding of speech. (c) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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| 4. |
- Koelewijn, Thomas, et al.
(author)
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The effect of reward on listening effort as reflected by the pupil dilation response
- 2018
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In: Hearing Research. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. - 0378-5955 .- 1878-5891. ; 367, s. 106-112
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Listening to speech in noise can be effortful but when motivated people seem to be more persevering. Previous research showed effects of monetary reward on autonomic responses like cardiovascular reactivity and pupil dilation while participants processed auditory information. The current study examined the effects of monetary reward on the processing of speech in noise and related listening effort as reflected by the pupil dilation response. Twenty-four participants (median age 21 yrs) performed two speech reception threshold (SRT) tasks, one tracking 50% correct (hard) and one tracking 85% correct (easy), both of which they listened to and repeated sentences uttered by a female talker. The sentences were presented with a single male talker or, in a control condition, in quiet. Participants were told that they could earn a high (5 euros) or low (0.20 euro) reward when repeating 70% or more of the sentences correctly. Conditions were presented in a blocked fashion and during each trial, pupil diameter was recorded. At the end of each block, participants rated the effort they had experienced, their performance, and their tendency to quit listening. Additionally, participants performed a working memory capacity task and filled in a need-for-recovery questionnaire as these tap into factors that influence the pupil dilation response. The results showed no effect of reward on speech perception performance as reflected by the SRT. The peak pupil dilation showed a significantly larger response for high than for low reward, for the easy and hard conditions, but not the control condition. Higher need for recovery was associated with a higher subjective tendency to quit listening. Consistent with the Framework for Understanding Effortful Listening, we conclude that listening effort as reflected by the peak pupil dilation is sensitive to the amount of monetary reward. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 5. |
- Rönnberg, Jerker, et al.
(author)
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Cognitive Hearing Science: The role of a working memory system for speech understanding in old age
- 2009
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In: <em>Hearing care for adults</em>. - Stäfa : Phonak.
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Many older adults with hearing impairment continue to have substantial communication difficulties after being fitted with hearing aids, and many do not choose to wear hearing aids. Two group communication education programs aimed at such older people are described. The 'Keep on Talking' program has a health promotion focus, and is aimed at maintaining communication for older adults living in the community. An experimental group (n = 120) attended the program, and a control group (n = 130) received a communication assessment but no intervention. Significant improvements were found in the experimental participants in terms of knowledge about communication changes with age and about strategies to maintain communication skills. At the follow-up evaluation at 1 year, 45% of the experimental group, compared to 10% of the control group, had acted to improve their communication skills. The 'Active Communication Education' program focuses on the development of problem-solving strategies to improve communication in everyday life situations. Preliminary outcomes have been assessed on a small scale (n = 14) to date. It is concluded that communication programs represent an important adjunct to, or supplement for, the traditional approach that focuses on hearing aid fitting.
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| 6. |
- Zekveld, Adriana A, et al.
(author)
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Cognitive Abilities Relate to Self-Reported Hearing Disability
- 2013
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In: Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research. - : American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. - 1092-4388 .- 1558-9102. ; 56:5, s. 1364-1372
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: In this explorative study, the authors investigated the relationship between auditory and cognitive abilities and self-reported hearing disability. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMethod: Thirty-two adults with mild to moderate hearing loss completed the Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap (AIADH; Kramer, Kapteyn, Festen, andamp; Tobi, 1996) and performed the Text Reception Threshold (TRT; Zekveld, George, Kramer, Goverts, andamp; Houtgast, 2007) test as well as tests of spatial working memory (SWM) and visual sustained attention. Regression analyses examined the predictive value of age, hearing thresholds (pure-tone averages [PTAs]), speech perception in noise (speech reception thresholds in noise [SRTNs]), and the cognitive tests for the 5 AIADH factors. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults: Besides the variance explained by age, PTA, and SRTN, cognitive abilities were related to each hearing factor. The reported difficulties with sound detection and speech perception in quiet were less severe for participants with higher age, lower PTAs, and better TRTs. Fewer sound localization and speech perception in noise problems were reported by participants with better SRTNs and smaller SWM. Fewer sound discrimination difficulties were reported by subjects with better SRTNs and TRTs and smaller SWM. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusions: The results suggest a general role of the ability to read partly masked text in subjective hearing. Large working memory was associated with more reported hearing difficulties. This study shows that besides auditory variables and age, cognitive abilities are related to self-reported hearing disability.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Zekveld, Adriana A, et al.
(author)
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Reading Behind the Lines : The Factors Affecting the Text Reception Threshold in Hearing Aid Users.
- 2018
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In: Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research. - : American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. - 1092-4388 .- 1558-9102. ; 61:3, s. 762-775
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: The visual Text Reception Threshold (TRT) test (Zekveld et al., 2007) has been designed to assess modality-general factors relevant for speech perception in noise. In the last decade, the test has been adopted in audiology labs worldwide. The 1st aim of this study was to examine which factors best predict interindividual differences in the TRT. Second, we aimed to assess the relationships between the TRT and the speech reception thresholds (SRTs) estimated in various conditions.; Method: First, we reviewed studies reporting relationships between the TRT and the auditory and/or cognitive factors and formulated specific hypotheses regarding the TRT predictors. These hypotheses were tested using a prediction model applied to a rich data set of 180 hearing aid users. In separate association models, we tested the relationships between the TRT and the various SRTs and subjective hearing difficulties, while taking into account potential confounding variables.; Results: The results of the prediction model indicate that the TRT is predicted by the ability to fill in missing words in incomplete sentences, by lexical access speed, and by working memory capacity. Furthermore, in line with previous studies, a moderate association between higher age, poorer pure-tone hearing acuity, and poorer TRTs was observed. Better TRTs were associated with better SRTs for the correct perception of 50% of Hagerman matrix sentences in a 4-talker babble, as well as with better subjective ratings of speech perception. Age and pure-tone hearing thresholds significantly confounded these associations. The associations of the TRT with SRTs estimated in other conditions and with subjective qualities of hearing were not statistically significant when adjusting for age and pure-tone average.; Conclusions: We conclude that the abilities tapped into by the TRT test include processes relevant for speeded lexical decision making when completing partly masked sentences and that these processes require working memory capacity. Furthermore, the TRT is associated with the SRT of hearing aid users as estimated in a challenging condition that includes informational masking and with experienced difficulties with speech perception in daily-life conditions. The current results underline the value of using the TRT test in studies involving speech perception and aid in the interpretation of findings acquired using the test.
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| 9. |
- Zekveld, Adriana A, et al.
(author)
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Task Difficulty Differentially Affects Two Measures of Processing Load: The Pupil Response During Sentence Processing and Delayed Cued Recall of the Sentences
- 2013
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In: Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research. - : American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. - 1092-4388 .- 1558-9102. ; 56:4, s. 1156-1165
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: In this study, the authors assessed the influence of masking level (29% or 71% sentence perception) and test modality on the processing load during language perception as reflected by the pupil response. In addition, the authors administered a delayed cued stimulus recall test to examine whether processing load affected the encoding of the stimuli in memory. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMethod: Participants performed speech and text reception threshold tests, during which the pupil response was measured. In the cued recall test, the first half of correctly perceived sentences was presented, and participants were asked to complete the sentences. Reading and listening span tests of working memory capacity were presented as well. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults: Regardless of test modality, the pupil response indicated higher processing load in the 29% condition than in the 71% correct condition. Cued recall was better for the 29% condition. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusions: The consistent effect of masking level on the pupil response during listening and reading support the validity of the pupil response as a measure of processing load during language perception. The absent relation between pupil response and cued recall may suggest that cued recall is not directly related to processing load, as reflected by the pupil response.
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| 10. |
- Zekveld, Adriana A, et al.
(author)
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The effects of working memory capacity and semantic cues on the intelligibility of speech in noise
- 2013
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In: Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. - : Acoustical Society of America (ASA). - 0001-4966 .- 1520-8524. ; 134:3, s. 2225-2234
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study examined how semantically related information facilitates the intelligibility of spoken sentences in the presence of masking sound, and how this facilitation is influenced by masker type and by individual differences in cognitive functioning. Dutch sentences were masked by stationary noise, fluctuating noise, or an interfering talker. Each sentence was preceded by a text cue; cues were either three words that were semantically related to the sentence or three unpronounceable nonwords. Speech reception thresholds were adaptively measured. Additional measures included working memory capacity (reading span and size comparison span), linguistic closure ability (text reception threshold), and delayed sentence recognition. Word cues facilitated speech perception in noise similarly for all masker types. Cue benefit was related to reading span performance when the masker was interfering speech, but not when other maskers were used, and it did not correlate with text reception threshold or size comparison span. Better reading span performance was furthermore associated with enhanced delayed recognition of sentences preceded by word relative to nonword cues, across masker types. The results suggest that working memory capacity is associated with release from informational masking by semantically related information, and additionally with the encoding, storage, or retrieval of speech content in memory.
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| 11. |
- Zekveld, Adriana A, et al.
(author)
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Working memory capacity mediates the facilitative effect of semantically related cues on the intelligibilityof speech in noise
- 2013
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This study assessed the influence of masker type, working memory capacity (reading span and size comparison span) and linguistic closure ability (text reception threshold) on the benefit obtained from semantically related text cues during perception of speech in noise. Sentences were masked by stationary noise, fluctuating noise, or an interfering talker. Each sentence was preceded by three text cues that were either words that were semantically related to the sentence or unpronounceable nonwords. Speech perception thresholds were adaptively measured and delayed sentence recognition was subsequently assessed. Word cues facilitated speech perception in noise. The amount of benefit did not depend on masker type, but benefit correlated with reading span when speech was masked by interfering speech. Cue benefit was not related to reading span when other maskers were used and did not correlate with the text reception threshold or size comparison span. Larger working-memory capacity was furthermore associated with enhanced delayed recall of sentences preceded by word cues relative to nonword cues. This suggests that working memory capacity may be associated with release from informational masking by semantically related information, with keeping the cues in mind while disambiguating the sentence and for encoding of speech content into long-term memory.
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