Abstract:
The present study examined how memory processes may be impacted by uncorrected hearing loss and increased expenditure of cognitive resources during encoding of spoken prose in older adults (OAs). The effect of self-paced listening on the accuracy of recall was investigated, as well as the relationship between the order of propositions in a passage and the order in which they are recalled. 24 OAs were matched for cognitive ability, but differed in hearing acuity (12 had good hearing acuity (GH); 12 had mild to moderate poor hearing acuity (PH)). Expository passages were presented in a self-paced or continuous listening condition; as well as at +10 dB above each listener’s speech reception threshold (SRT) or at +25 dB above SRT. Results indicated a significant main effect of levels of detail on recall accuracy. Only the PH group’s recall accuracy was significantly impacted by pacing and presentation level. Self-pacing facilitated linear congruency of recall for the GH group only. Lag recency analysis suggested that the GH group formed stronger between-proposition associations than the PH group.
