This study investigated the association between age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and differences in response efficiency and variability on a sustained attention task. The study population comprised 32 participants in a hearing loss group (HLG) and 34 controls without hearing loss (CG). Mean reaction time (RT) and accuracy were recorded to assess response efficiency. RT variability was decomposed to examine temporal aspects of variability associated with neural arousal and top-down executive control of vigilant attention. The HLG had a significantly longer mean RT, possibly reflecting a strategic approach to maintain accuracy. The HLG also demonstrated altered variability (indicative of greater decline in neural arousal) but maintained executive control that was significantly predictive of poorer response efficiency. Adults with ARHL may rely on higher-order attention networks to compensate for decline in both peripheral sensory function and in subcortical arousal systems which mediate lower-order automatic neurocognitive processes.

本研究调查了与年龄相关的听力损失 (ARHL) 与持续注意力任务的反应效率和可变性差异之间的关联。研究人群包括听力损失组 (HLG) 的 32 名参与者和无听力损失 (CG) 的 34 名对照组。记录平均反应时间 (RT) 和准确性以评估反应效率。RT 变异性被分解以检查与神经唤醒和自上而下的警惕注意力执行控制相关的变异性的时间方面。HLG 的平均 RT 明显更长，这可能反映了保持准确性的战略方法。HLG 还表现出改变的可变性（表明神经唤醒的下降幅度更大），但保持了执行控制，这显着预测了较差的反应效率。