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As people age, declining hearing sensitivity and difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments become common problems for older adults. While traditional hearing aids can partially alleviate hearing loss, they offer limited improvement in speech perception in complex scenarios.
A recent study published in *npj Science of Learning* offers new insights into this challenge: immersive multisensory training significantly improved speech perception in noisy environments among older adults, particularly those with weaker hearing and working memory. Conducted by a team from the University of Zurich, the study reveals the importance of synergistic sensory and cognitive training and provides a scientific basis for the design of future rehabilitation technologies.
The research team recruited 39 healthy elderly individuals aged 61-80 (with an average hearing threshold of 21.52 dB and mild to moderate hearing loss) and used a crossover experimental design to compare the effects of pure auditory training (AU) and immersive audiovisual training (IM) supported by virtual reality (VR). Participants were required to listen to natural continuous speech and answer comprehension questions during training, while undergoing pre- and post-tests of speech perception threshold (SRT) in noise.
Key Results:
1. Immersive training has significant effects: After IM training, participants’ signal-to-noise ratio (SRT) decreased by an average of 0.6 dB (a decrease in SRT indicates an increase in noise tolerance), while pure auditory training only reduced it by 0.12 dB.
2. Individual differences affect training benefits: Participants with more severe hearing loss (higher PTA) or weaker auditory working memory showed more significant improvement in immersive training. For example, individuals with auditory working memory below the mean by one standard deviation had a 0.677 dB higher SRT improvement after IM training compared to AU training.
3. Adaptability of cognitive load: In the immersive environment, participants maintained stable task performance throughout the process, while their performance declined in the later stages of pure auditory training, suggesting that multisensory input may alleviate cognitive fatigue.
This study aligns closely with the Integrated Perceptual-Cognitive System Theory (Schneider-Piccola-Fuller) proposed by BA Schneider and MK Picola-Fuller. This theory posits that speech comprehension depends on a dynamic balance between sensory processing and higher-order cognition, and that immersive environments, by increasing redundant sensory information, force individuals to optimize resource allocation strategies. In the experiment, hearing-impaired individuals benefited more from multisensory training, confirming the "sensory compensation hypothesis"-that when basic auditory abilities decline, additional visual cues can effectively alleviate cognitive load.
Although the study only validated short-term effects, its clinical significance cannot be ignored. Currently, the penetration rate of hearing aids is less than 50%, partly due to their limited support for complex listening scenarios. Immersive training offers a new approach to hearing rehabilitation: simulating real-life conversational environments through technological means may be more practical than traditional training.
Future research could further explore the mechanisms for maintaining long-term effects and optimize the interactive design of virtual reality scenarios to improve user compliance. Furthermore, the impact of different training intensities, frequencies, and durations on the effects could be investigated to optimize training programs and achieve optimal results across different individuals.
More information: Frei, V. & Giroud, N. (2025). Immersive auditory-cognitive training improves speech-in-noise perception in older adults with varying hearing and working memory. npj Science of Learning, 10:12.
Note: This article is reprinted from 21dB Acoustics.