Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship between age-related hearing loss, cognitive level and speech perception in noise in Putonghua. Methods From January to October 2018, 31 outpatients who visited the department of otolaryngology (aged 52-75) were divided into hearing normal (HN) group and hearing loss (HL) group according to the results of the average threshold measured with pure-tone audiometry. They were assessed with the computer-aided Chinese Speech Test Platform and the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery, which respectively evaluated the speech perception ability in noise, and the episodic memory, working memory and executive ability under non-verbal stimulation. Results There were significant differences in speech perception ability, episodic memory and executive ability between the two groups (U < 68, P < 0.05). The hearing level correlated to the speech perception in noise, whatever the speech and noise were separated, as well as the episodic memory, working memory and executive ability (r > 0.360, P < 0.05). The more difficult the speech perception task was, the more significant the correlation between signal-noise ratio and cognitive ability was. Conclusion Under the condition of Putonghua, age-related hearing loss is one of the main reasons for the decline of speech perception in noise in the old adults. Hearing loss leads to the decline of episodic memory and executive ability, which in turn affects speech perception in noise. The more difficulty it is to recognize speech in noise, the greater the dependence on cognitive level.

Key words: Chinese, Putonghua, speech perception in noise, cognition, hearing loss, aging