Influence of the degree of hearing impairment on central auditory processing in people with presbycusis

Abstract Background Auditory processing involves decoding auditory impulses along auditory pathways in the central nervous system. Aging causes a decline in hearing and auditory processing abilities. Difficulties in auditory information processing include limitations in transferring, processing, organizing, transforming, analyzing, storing, recalling, and using auditory information. The aim of this research was to examine the influence of hearing impairment on auditory processing abilities in people with presbycusis. In addition, this research aimed to determine whether gender and age affect auditory processing in people with presbycusis. Method The research included 43 participants, 59–90 years of age. The PSP-1 Auditory Processing Disorder Test Battery was used to examine auditory processing abilities. We also used liminal tonal audiometry and the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire–SPMSQ. Results The participants achieved the worst results on the speech-in-noise test and the dichotic word test. A statistically significant difference was found in auditory processing abilities with regard to age ( p < 0.001) and the degree of hearing impairment ( p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were determined in relation to gender. Regression analysis pointed out the degree of hearing impairment as a significant predictor of auditory processing abilities ( p < 0.001). Conclusion Auditory processing abilities decline with age, and the degree of hearing impairment significantly affects these abilities.