Abstract

Background and aim: Optimal speech perception in a noisy environment require sensory and cognitive skills. In the cognitive spectrum, working memory (WM) plays the most effective role in speech perception in noise (SPIN), to which different factors contribute such as age, hearing loss and hearing aids technologies. Recent Finding: in young people with normal hearing, no significant correlation exists between working memory and speech perception in noise, while this correlation increases with age. In people with hearing impairment, the role of working memory in speech in noise is more prominent. Hearing aids technology also affects the relationship between working memory and speech perception due to creating distortion.

Conclusion: Working memory plays an important role in speech recognition. This relation is especially strong in the elderly and hearing-impaired people. Therefore, working memory training can improve speech perception in noise in these individuals. The use of hearing aids in hearing impaired people also depends on the working memory capacity. The greater the capacity of working memory, the hearing aids technology will improve more the speech perception in noise. Finally, working memory training may be used to improve listeners’ speech perception in noise.

Keywords: Working memory; Hearing loss; Speech in noise; Speech perception

Abbrevations: PL: Phonological Loop; VSSP: Visuospatial Sketchpad; EB: Episodic Buffer; PTA: Pure Tone Audiometry; SPIN: Speech Perception in Noise; ELU: Ease of Language Understanding