perception of aging, cognition, music: problems and prospects
TRANSCRIPT
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.
