Abstract
Age and lifetime noise exposure were used as predictors for electrophysiological and psychophysical measures of amplitude modulation processing. Frequency-following responses (FFRs) were recorded from 61 listeners (20 young, 23 middle-aged, 18 elderly) to 0.6- and 2-kHz, 75-dB SPL, carrier tones amplitude modulated at 100 Hz. A pink noise highpass-filtered at 3 kHz was included to mask basal cochlear contributions to the FFR. Sinusoidal amplitude modulation detection (AMD) thresholds were measured for the same listeners for a 2-kHz carrier (40 and 80 dB SPL) and for three modulation frequencies (25, 50, and 100 Hz). The carrier was presented in notched pink noise to limit off-frequency listening. Lifetime noise exposure was estimated using a structured interview. A regression model was used to determine the independent contributions of age and noise exposure, while controlling for audiometric threshold. FFR amplitude for the 0.6 kHz carrier showed a marked age-related decline. Age was also associated with a significant increase in AMD thresholds. Lifetime noise exposure was not significantly associated with either FFR amplitude or AMD threshold. The results suggest that age is a stronger predictor of modulation processing deficits than lifetime noise exposure.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.