Shafaqna English- Struggling to follow a conversation in a noisy restaurant may not be a sign of hearing loss, but rather a reflection of your cognitive ability, according to new research.
A study from the University of Washington has found that a person’s intelligence is a key predictor of how well they can process speech in challenging environments like crowded rooms or busy classrooms, challenging the conventional assumption that such difficulties are always ear-related.
The research involved three distinct groups with normal hearing: Individuals with autism, those with foetal alcohol syndrome, and neurotypical individuals. Participants were tasked with focusing on a single speaker while ignoring competing background voices.
The results revealed a strong and consistent correlation across all groups: Those with higher scores on standardized intelligence tests performed better at isolating and understanding the target speech.
Lead Researcher Bonnie Lau emphasized that successful listening in noise is a complex brain function, requiring the listener to separate sound streams, focus attention, suppress distractions, and process language simultaneously.
The study suggests that individuals who are neurodivergent or have lower cognitive ability might benefit from practical adjustments, such as preferential seating in classrooms or the use of assistive listening devices, to ease the cognitive load of communication.
Source: University of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine