Temporal acuity and speech recognition score in noise in patients with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the central nervous system diseases can be associated with a variety of symptoms such as hearing disorders. The main consequence of hearing loss is poor speech perception، and temporal acuity has important role in speech perception. We evaluated the speech perception in silent and in the presence of noise and temporal acuity in patients with multiple sclerosis. Eighteen adults with multiple sclerosis with the mean age of 37. 28 years and 18 age- and sex- matched controls with the mean age of 38. 00 years participated in this study. Temporal acuity and speech perception were evaluated by random gap detection test (GDT) and word recognition score (WRS) in three different signal to noise ratios. Statistical analysis of test results revealed significant differences between the two groups (p<0. 05). Analysis of gap detection test (in 4 sensation levels) and word recognition score in both groups showed significant differences (p<0. 001). According to this survey، the ability of patients with multiple sclerosis to process temporal features of stimulus was impaired. It seems that، this impairment is important factor to decrease word recognition score and speech perception.