Task-Unrelated Image and Thought Frequency during Chronic Auditory Sensory Deprivation: A Laboratory Study with the Severely Hearing-Impaired

Abstract

Earlier studies have reported an inverse relationship between information load and internally generated stimulation in the form of task-unrelated images and thoughts (TUITs). It was hypothesized, based on these studies and several theories of optimal stimulation levels, that auditory deprivation, as chronically experienced by the severely hearing-impaired, would result in more frequent TUITs. TUITs were reported, shortly after they occurred, while the participant was engaged in a visual sustained attention task. Both intentional and spontaneous TUITs were recorded. The hearing-impaired participants (n = 15, 20 to 26 years old) all had experienced severe or profound auditory loss prior to the age for normal acquisition of language. As hypothesized, the severely hearing-impaired participants had significantly, p < .05, more TUITs than normal-hearing participants (n = 17, 18 to 30 years old).

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