Age-related changes in attention switching: Cognitive and sensory factors in selective listening.

What is it about?

Why do many older adults report listening difficulties when, during a conversation, multiple people are talking simultaneously? Our findings show that these difficulties are not explained by sensory hearing loss alone. Instead, older adults experience greater challenges when they need to switch attention between speakers, highlighting the role of age-related changes in the cognitive control of auditory attention.

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Photo by Mark Paton on Unsplash

Photo by Mark Paton on Unsplash

Why is it important?

These results highlight the critical role of age-related changes in cognitive control during auditory processing, and offer new insights into the specific challenges older adults face in complex, multitalker situations.