An exploratory investigation of speech-in-noise ability and cognitive performance in young adult contact sport athletes

To explore speech-in-noise abilities and cognitive performance in young adult contact sport athletes exposed to repetitive head impacts (RHI).

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Contact sport athletes with repetitive head impacts may show subclinical deficits in speech-in-noise processing and cognition; audiologists working with young athletes should consider including speech-in-noise testing as part of post-concussion or repeated-impact evaluations, though the exploratory design limits firm clinical recommendations.

If repetitive sub-concussive impacts impair central auditory processing and cognition, audiologists may have a unique role in early detection of cumulative brain injury in athletes before overt neurological symptoms appear.

1. 01Exploratory cross-sectional study comparing contact and non-contact sport athletes on speech-in-noise and cognitive tasks.
2. 02Subjects were young adults, not necessarily diagnosed with concussion — focused on repetitive sub-concussive impacts.
3. 03Published in Brain Injury journal; small or preliminary sample likely given exploratory design.
4. 04Findings suggest possible subclinical central auditory and cognitive effects from repeated head impacts.
5. 05Cross-sectional design cannot establish causation; pre-injury baselines were not available.

PMID

42977503

DOI

10.1080/02699052.2026.2755952.

Journal

Brain Injury

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

3

Population

Young adult contact sport athletes with repetitive head impact exposure

Intervention

Participation in contact sports with repetitive head impacts

Comparator

Non-contact sport athletes