perception of aging, cognition, music: problems and prospects

Perception of Music: Problems

and Prospects

Frank Russo Ryerson University

Hearing Notes: Aging, Cognition, & Music Frank Russo, Ph.D

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Jim Hudspeth, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Bach’s Toccata & Fugue in D-minor

Inner Hair Cells

Inner Hair Cell Damage

Jonathan Ashmore, University College London Bill Haley’s (1954) Rock around the Clock

Outer Hair Cells

Outer Hair Cell Damage

Neural Auditory Pathway

From Patel (2011), Frontiers in Psychology

Age-related changes in neural synchrony

From Clinard et al. (2010), Hearing Research

Prevalence of Hearing Loss

• Increases progressively with age

– 40% of people over 60

– 70% of people over 70

– 90% of people over 80

Consequences

• communication difficulty

• social isolation

• frustration

• reduced confidence

• depression

• stress

• risk factor for dementia

Early Symptoms

• Not able to follow voices in a crowd. • Missing key details in announcements made over

public address systems (e.g., at Airport) • Difficulty understanding women’s or children’s

voices • Mixing up “s”, “f”, and other fricatives

– Did you say that you are still waiting for the “buff” or the “bus”?

• Find yourself filling in the gaps. – Cognitive toll …

From Getzmann & Falkenstein (2011)

Impact of on Cognition

Shape your environment!

• Choose quiet environments for conversation when possible

• Stand close to the person speaking

• Make sure the speaker is well lit and facing you – We all lip read!

• Ask conversation partners to speak at a moderate pace and loudly but without shouting

Consider hearing aids!

• All hearing aids amplify sound

• Modern digital aids also minimize noise, provide directional sensitivity, and “dynamic tuning”

• OHIP covers diagnostic hearing tests conducted by certified audiologists.

• After receiving hearing aids, most users report an improved quality of life

Other technologies to consider

• Amplified telephones

• Pocket talker

• Personal FM listening systems

Get Musical!

Moshe-Steinberg, Nespoli, Ammirante, McGrath & Russo (in preparation)

Get your hearing tested!

• Takes about 20 minutes.