Evaluation of dynamic spatial auditory processing in Persian-Speaking elderly with normal hearing aged 55 to 70

Background and Aims: In noisy listening environments, one of the skills that is critical for speech perception is spatial auditory processing. It is predicted that the spatial auditory processing ability of elderly people decreases due to structural and physiological changes in auditory cortex, central auditory pathways and peripheral auditory system. The aim of this study is to investigate dynamic spatial auditory processing in elderly with normal hearing. Materials and methods: This study was conducted on 35 people (16 men and 19 women) in the age range of 55 to 70 years with normal hearing and the results were compared with the results of 35 healthy people (15 men and 20 women) in the age range of 18 to 25 years. To investigate the dynamic spatial auditory processing, after performing preliminary examinations such as otoscopy, audiometry and tympanometry, the Persian version of speech perception, spatial hearing and quality of hearing questionnaire (SSQ) and the spatial hearing questionnaire (SHQ) were completed in the form of an interview. Then, the dynamic spatial quick speech in noise (DS-QSIN) and the binaural masking level difference (BMLD) test were performed using the relevant applications and the values of signal noise ratio (SNR) loss, SNR50 and MLD were recorded for each person. Results: There is a significant difference (P<0.05) between the elderly and young groups according to the results of the SSQ, SHQ questionnaire, the SNR50 and SNR loss index, and the value of MLD. In this study did not reveal a statistically significant difference between two genders (P>0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that despite normal hearing, dynamic spatial auditory processing in the elderly has a weaker performance than in young people.