Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Dr Ester Benzaquen, Xiaoxuan Guo, Dr Meher Lad, Emeritus Professor Stephen Rushton, Professor Tim GriffithsORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2025. The Author(s). Problems understanding speech-in-noise (SIN) are commonly associated with peripheral hearing loss. But pure tone audiometry (PTA) alone fails to fully explain SIN ability. This is because SIN perception is based on complex interactions between peripheral hearing, central auditory processing (CAP) and other cognitive abilities. We assessed interaction between these factors and age using a multivariate approach that allows the modelling of directional effects on theoretical constructs: structural equation modelling. We created a model to explain SIN using latent constructs for sound segregation, auditory (working) memory, and SIN perception, as well as PTA, age, and measures of non-verbal reasoning. In a sample of 207 participants aged 18-81 years old, age was the biggest determinant of SIN ability, followed by auditory memory. PTA did not contribute to SIN directly, although it modified sound segregation ability, which covaried with auditory memory. A second model, using a CAP latent structure formed by measures of sound segregation, auditory memory, and temporal processing, revealed CAP to be the largest determinant of SIN ahead of age. Furthermore, we demonstrated the impact of PTA and non-verbal reasoning on SIN are mediated by their influence on CAP. Our results highlight the importance of central auditory processing in speech-in-noise perception.
Author(s): Benzaquen E, Colak H, Guo X, Lad M, Rushton SP, Griffiths TD
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Scientific Reports
Year: 2025
Volume: 15
Online publication date: 07/10/2025
Acceptance date: 03/09/2025
Date deposited: 20/10/2025
ISSN (electronic): 2045-2322
Publisher: Springer Nature
URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-18800-6
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-18800-6
Data Access Statement: The data and analysis script used in the current manuscript can be publicly accessed through OSF (https://osf.io/nz9v7/).
PubMed id: 41057448
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric
