Differential Cognitive Strategies for Speech-in-Noise Perception: A Comparative Study Between Yoga Practitioners and Non-practitioners

Speech perception in noise varies widely even among normal-hearing individuals and is strongly influenced by cognitive factors such as attention, working memory and linguistic abilities. Yoga is known to enhance these domains, yet its potential impact on speech-in-noise perception remains insufficiently explored....

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✦ The floor

Discussion

Signed responses from readers of the wire.

✦ Clinical Takeaway ✦

No immediate practice change is warranted; this preliminary comparative study raises interesting hypotheses about cognitive training and speech-in-noise performance, but sample characteristics, yoga dosage, and causality are not established.

✦ Why It Matters ✦

If cognitive training practices like yoga demonstrably improve speech-in-noise perception, they could eventually complement audiological rehabilitation strategies for patients struggling in noisy environments.

✦ Key Points ✦

01Yoga practitioners showed differential use of cognitive strategies (attention, working memory) for speech-in-noise perception compared to non-practitioners.
02The study is published in Annals of Neurosciences (DOI: 10.1177/09727531261455191).
03Findings suggest top-down cognitive factors — not just auditory sensitivity — shape speech-in-noise performance.
04Cross-sectional comparative design limits causal inference about whether yoga causes the differences observed.
05Results could inform future research on cognitive auditory rehabilitation and aural rehabilitation programs.

✦ Claims & Evidence ✦

ClaimEvidenceSupport

Yoga practitioners use different cognitive strategies than non-practitioners when perceiving speech in noise.

studypartially supported

Attention and working memory differentially influence speech-in-noise perception between yoga and non-yoga groups.

studypartially supported

Yoga practice may enhance cognitive resources relevant to auditory processing in noisy environments.

studyunclear

✦ Research metadata ✦

PMID: 42427968
DOI: 10.1177/09727531261455191.
Journal: Annals of Neurosciences
Publication type: research_article
Evidence level: 3
Population: Adult yoga practitioners and non-practitioners with normal or near-normal hearing
Intervention: Long-term yoga practice (as a naturally occurring exposure)
Comparator: Non-yoga-practicing adults

Primary outcomes

Speech-in-noise perception scores; Cognitive strategy use (attention and working memory measures)

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