Word onset gating and linguistic context in spoken word recognition by young and elderly adults
Article Abstract:
Spoken words are processed rapidly using linguistic information. When words are used in context, listeners often require less than half of the word to be spoken before it is recognized. When words are used out of context, it takes about 50 percent more time before recognition is achieved. It is thought that age-related deficits in memory might have an effect on one's ability to recognize words used in context. This can be studied with a technique known as gating, where subjects are presented with increasing amounts of a word until it is recognized. To compare the time required before correct identification is achieved for words in and out of context, 18 elderly subjects with an average age of 69 years and 18 young subjects with an average age of 19 years were studied. Subjects were presented with 18 target words, each occurring as the last word in a sentence. Sentences were designed to provide either high context, low context, or no context. Under conditions of no context, subjects in both groups needed to hear about 50 to 60 percent of a word before recognizing it. When heard in context, they required only 20 to 30 percent of a word before recognition was achieved. Though there was an age effect such that elderly subjects required more of a word before they could recognize it, it was small and not statistically significant. Therefore, there were no appreciable differences in performance between young and old subjects for the recognition of gated words, although younger subjects tended to be more confident of their recognition than older subjects. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journals of Gerontology
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0022-1422
Year: 1991
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Age-related differences in measures of upper extremity impairment
Article Abstract:
Two random samples of groups of workers at risk for upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) were given tests for signs and symptoms of CTDs. Older workers (51-71 years) were compared with middle aged and younger workers to see if older workers are more susceptible to CTDs. No significant differences between the age groups were found, nor significant age-gender interaction. Differences between age groups were highest for symptoms, and older workers had more problems with vibration, cutaneous pressure and motor latency.
Publication Name: Journals of Gerontology
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0022-1422
Year: 1993
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