Neural Correlates of the Acceptable Noise Level and Self-Reported Listening Skills in Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

PURPOSE: This brain-behavior study investigated the relationship between auditory sensory gating and noise acceptance in listeners with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Relationships between self-reported listening skills and auditory sensory gating were also examined. METHOD: Neural responses to pure-tone stimuli were elicited using a traditional, passive gating paradigm in 12 listeners with ASD and 12 neurotypical control listeners. Noise acceptance was quantified in all listeners using the acceptable noise level (ANL) measure. Self-reported listening abilities were measured using the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ). Relationships between neural and behavioral measures were analyzed using linear mixed-effects regression. RESULTS: Listeners with ASD accepted less noise when listening to concurrent speech, had higher intensity most comfortable levels for speech, and reported significantly more difficulties on the SSQ compared to the control group. Regression analyses showed that, across groups, weaker P1 gating was associated with poorer noise acceptance. In addition, there were differential effects of P2 gating on self-reported listening deficits on the SSQ between the ASD and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: In listeners with and without ASD, weaker pre-attentive P1 gating was significantly associated with higher ANLs (i.e., poorer noise acceptance). In contrast, weaker later stage cortical inhibition was related to greater reported listening deficits on the SSQ in listeners with ASD only.