The Impact of IQ on Listening Skills in Noisy Environments

Imagine being in a lively café, trying to focus on a conversation amidst a sea of background noise. While many might assume that such difficulties stem from hearing impairments, recent research suggests that cognitive abilities, particularly IQ, play a vital role in how well individuals perceive speech in challenging auditory settings. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Washington examined the connection between intelligence and speech perception in noisy environments across different groups, including neurodivergent individuals with autism and fetal alcohol syndrome, as well as neurotypical controls.

The study found that cognitive ability significantly influences how effectively a person can segregate and process multiple speech streams simultaneously. Participants with higher IQ scores demonstrated better performance in complex listening tasks, regardless of whether they had typical hearing or neurodivergent conditions. The research involved audiology screenings followed by computer-based tests where participants were instructed to attend to a primary voice while background voices became increasingly audible. Standardized assessments of verbal and nonverbal intelligence were then correlated with their listening performance.

Lead researcher Bonnie Lau highlighted that successful listening in noisy settings involves multiple brain processes, including stream segregation, linguistic comprehension, and social cues. These processes demand substantial cognitive resources, which explains why individuals with lower IQ or neurodivergent conditions often report greater difficulties in such environments. Importantly, the findings challenge the common misconception that listening challenges are solely due to peripheral hearing loss, emphasizing instead that cognitive factors are central.

The study's limited sample size suggests the need for further research, but it raises essential considerations for educational and social support strategies. Interventions such as preferential seating, assistive listening devices, or tailored classroom modifications could greatly benefit individuals with lower cognitive abilities or neurodivergent profiles. Overall, this research underscores the importance of recognizing cognitive factors in addressing auditory processing difficulties in real-world settings.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-iq-affect-ability-noisy.html