Auditory Research 2026

Auditory Perceptual Learning in Speech-in-Noise Recognition Across Three Age Groups

Yossi Bugannim Doreen Shpigel Daphne Ari-Even Roth Liat Kishon-Rabin
The Department of Communication Disorders, Steyer School of Health Professions, Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Israel

Background and Purpose: Auditory perceptual learning is essential for speech understanding in noise. Although speech-in-noise (SiN) training improves performance, little is known about age-related differences in learning and consolidation processes. This study compared SiN learning trajectories in children, young adults, and older adults using an identical multi-day training protocol.

Methods: Thirty-five normal-hearing participants were assigned to three groups: children (n=10), young adults (n=12), and older adults (n=13). Participants completed five consecutive days of training using the Hebrew Matrix Sentence Test (HEBMatrix), with six adaptive SiN measurements per day. Speech recognition threshold in noise (SRTn) served as the primary outcome measure. Cognitive abilities were assessed.

Results: All groups demonstrated significant improvement of 3.1, 2.36, and 1.72 dB SNR for children, young adults, and older adults, respectively, though learning dynamics differed by age. Children’s improvement emerged primarily between sessions, with little within-session change, indicating that consolidation across days drove their learning. In contrast, young and older adults showed the opposite pattern, with significant within-session improvement but little evidence of between-session consolidation. Despite poorer baseline performance, children narrowed the gap with adult normative performance levels by the end of training. Better SiN performance was associated with better auditory working memory.

Conclusions: These findings point to distinct mechanisms underlying SiN perceptual learning across the lifespan, with children relying more on between-session consolidation and adults showing greater within-session plasticity during active training. The cross-age association between auditory working memory and SiN performance suggests that working memory capacity could help identify who is most likely to benefit from training and guide its individualization.