Effect of gap detection threshold and localisation acuity on spatial release from masking in older adults*

Abstract

Objective

The primary objective of this experiment was to measure the temporal and spatial processing capabilities of older individuals and use statistical models to identify the individual contributions of these temporal and spatial processing capabilities to spatial release from masking (SRM).

Design

Repeated measures

Study sample

Twenty-five older listeners with varying degrees of hearing loss participated in this experiment. SRM using the coordinate response measure, gap detection thresholds and localisation acuity for 1/3-octave-wide Gaussian noise bands centred at 500 and 4000 Hz were measured for all the listeners.

Results

Older listeners had better speech recognition thresholds when target and maskers were spatially separated as compared to when they were co-located. In addition, hearing loss and localisation acuity at 500 Hz were significant predictors in a multiple regression model predicting SRM. However, gap detection thresholds did not significantly contribute to the multiple regression model predicting SRM.

Conclusion

Based on our data, we conclude that SRM at 30° spatial separation between the target and symmetric maskers is driven by the ability of the individuals to use interaural time difference cues.

Keywords:

• Spatial release from masking
• gap detection
• localisation ability
• binaural processing
• ageing
• hearing loss

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Hearing Health Foundation’s Emerging Research Grant awarded to Dr. Nirmal Kumar Srinivasan.