The Effect of a Simulated Hearing Loss on Performance of an Auditory Memory Task in Driving

Hearing loss has been shown to exacerbate the effect of auditory distraction on driving performance in older drivers. This study controlled for the potentially confounding factor of age-related cognitive decrements, by applying a simulated hearing loss in young, normally hearing individuals. Participants drove a simulated road whilst completing auditory tasks under simulated hearing loss or normal hearing conditions. Measures of vehicle control, eye movements and auditory task performance were recorded. Results showed that performing the auditory tasks whilst driving resulted in more stable lateral vehicle control and a reduction in gaze dispersion around the road center. These trends were not exacerbated by simulated hearing loss, suggesting no effect of hearing loss on vehicle control or eye movement patterns during auditory task engagement. However, a small effect of simulated hearing loss on the performance of the most complex auditory task was observed during driving, suggesting that the use of sound-based in-vehicle systems may be problematic for hearing impaired individuals. Further research incorporating a wider variety of driving scenarios and auditory tasks is required in order to confirm the findings of this study.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2016.10.011
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369847816304181
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13698478
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Herbert, Nicholas
  • Thyer, Nicholas
  • Isherwood, Sarah
  • Merat, Natasha
• Publication Date: 2016-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 122-130
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
  • Volume: 43
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 1369-8478
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13698478

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged drivers; Cognition; Driver performance; Eye movements; Hearing impaired persons; Hearing loss; Steering
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01619382
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 21 2016 11:32AM