Impaired auditory processing and neural representation of speech in noise among symptomatic post-concussion adults

ABSTRACT

Background: The purpose of the study was to examine auditory event-related potential (AERP) evidence of changes in earlier and later stages of auditory processing in individuals with long-term post-concussion problems compared to healthy controls, with a secondary aim of comparing AERPs by functional auditory behavioral outcomes.

Methods: P1-N1-P2 complex and P300 components recorded to speech in quiet and background noise conditions were completed in individuals with ongoing post-concussion symptoms following mTBI and healthy controls. AERPs were also examined between sub-groups with normal or impaired auditory processing by behavioral tests.

Results: Group differences were present for later stages of auditory processing (P300). Earlier components did not significantly differ by group overall but were more affected by noise in the mTBI group. P2 amplitude in noise differed between mTBI sub-groups with normal or impaired auditory processing.

Conclusion: AERPs revealed differences between healthy controls and those with chronic post-concussion symptoms following mTBI at a later stage of auditory processing (P300). Neural processing at the earlier stage (P1-N1-P2) was more affected by noise in the mTBI group. Preliminary evidence suggested that it may be only the proportion of individuals with functional evidence of central auditory dysfunction with changes in AERPs at earlier stages of processing.

KEYWORDS:

• Mild traumatic brain injury
• cortical auditory evoked potential
• auditory processing
• speech in noise

Disclosure Statement

Portions of this work have been presented at professional meetings, including one in which the first author was paid a small honorarium. Preliminary data and these presentations were also referenced in two review articles by the first author. The authors have no other relevant financial, commercial, or legal conflicts relevant to the submitted research.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIH/NIDCD) under grant number R03DC010246, awarded to the first author.