Perception of Sound and Listening Effort When Listening to Stories With Background Noise

Introduction: Despite normal hearing, some individuals struggle to comprehend spoken messages in noisy environments. This condition is referred to as listening difficulty (LiD) or auditory processing disorder (APD). Recent studies have suggested a link between listening difficulties and auditory hypersensitivity (Robertson et al, 2013; Obuchi et al, 2024). However, the underlying mechanism is unclear. This study focused on sound perception and examined the effects of background noises and listening effort on understanding spoken messages in individuals with normal hearing. Methods: Twenty participants with normal hearing and no listening difficulties were included. Short stories were presented with four different background noises: white noise, multi-talker noise, pop music, and classical music, at single-to-noise ratios (SNR) of 0 dB, －5 dB, －10 dB. Participants rated their listening effort and the loudness of background noises on a scale from 1 (no problem/easy to listen) to 10 (too loud/strong effort required). The effects of background noises and SNR were compared using a two-way analysis of variance. Results: Significant differences were observed between the background noises (F=45.1, p<0.01), SNR (F=135.0, p<0.01), and their interaction (F=17.3, p<0.01). Among the background noises, pop music was the most difficult, and classical music was the easiest for participants to understand at the -10 dB SNR condition. Discussion: The results indicated that listening effort and perceived loudness of background noises varied depending on the type of background noises and the degree of SNR. Individuals with LiD, who experience difficulties understanding spoken messages in everyday situations, may perceive background noises differently. Further studies are needed to clarify the detailed mechanisms in individuals with LiD.

Reference:

Obuchi, C., Kawase, T., Sasame, Y., et al. (2024) Traits of Developmental Disorders in Adults With Listening Difficulties Without Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder And/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Journal of Clinical Medecine, 13(20), 6281.

Robertson, A.E.& Simmons, D.R. (2013) The relationship between sensory sensitivity and autistic traits in the general population. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 43, 775–784.