Speech-in-Noise Difficulties May Signal Early Brain Changes in Older Adults, Study Finds

Difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments may be more than a frustrating consequence of aging. New research suggests it could serve as an early indicator of brain changes associated with cognitive vulnerability, even before measurable cognitive decline becomes apparent....

Speech-in-noise testing (e.g., LiSN-S) may have value as an early marker of cognitive vulnerability in older adults, but findings are preliminary and not yet sufficient to change screening protocols — audiologists should monitor this line of research before integrating cognitive-risk counselling into routine SIN assessment.

If speech-in-noise performance independently predicts cortical thinning in auditory networks, it could reposition audiologists as frontline screeners in the early detection of cognitive decline.

1. 01Poorer speech-in-noise performance at baseline was linked to faster cortical thinning in speech-processing brain regions over 3 years.
2. 02Standard audiometric thresholds (pure-tone averages) were NOT independently associated with faster cortical thinning.
3. 03Hearing aid use was also not associated with the rate of cortical thinning in this study.
4. 04MRI brain imaging was used to track cortical thickness changes over a 3-year follow-up period.
5. 05Findings suggest speech-in-noise difficulty may reflect early central (brain-level) changes beyond peripheral hearing loss.

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

2b

Population

Older adults assessed for peripheral hearing, speech-in-noise ability, and hearing aid use at baseline

Intervention

Speech-in-noise performance (LiSN-S test) as a predictor of cortical thinning

Comparator

Audiometric hearing thresholds and hearing aid use as alternative predictors