Speech Perception in Complex Environments
How competing talkers, background noise, acoustic cues, and audibility influence the ability to recognize, attend to, and understand speech.
Owl Auditory-Cognitive Science Lab
Understanding how we listen in complex environments.
We investigate how auditory processing, cognition, and acoustic context shape speech understanding and listening function in daily life, with a focus on the listening experiences of autistic adults.
Southern Connecticut State University · Department of Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences · New Haven, CT
From acoustic cues to everyday listening experiences.
Our work examines why speech can become difficult to follow in real-world environments and why those challenges differ across listeners.
Auditory-Cognitive Process
How auditory stream segregation abilities, attention, memory, and other cognitive processes contribute to successful listening.
Individual Differences & Functional Listening
Why laboratory performance and everyday listening experiences differ across individuals, with particular interest in neurodiverse listeners.
Our goal is to connect what we measure in the laboratory with how people actually experience listening in everyday life—helping move hearing science and audiology toward better assessment and more individualized support for individuals who experience listening difficulties in the adverse environments of daily life.
Current focus · SCSU IRB #1624
Listening experiences in autistic adults
Our current research program examines how auditory processing and cognition contribute to speech understanding and functional listening for adults on the autism spectrum.
We are currently recruiting English-speaking autistic adults ages 18–35 for an in-person listening study at Southern Connecticut State University.
New Haven, CT2 study sessions$25/hour
Learn About Participating
Inside a study visit
What is participating like?
Depending on the study, participants may complete hearing tests, listen to speech and other sounds, perform auditory and cognitive tasks, and answer questions about everyday listening experiences.
Participant InformationScience, collaboration, and student mentorship.
Peter A. Wasiuk, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A · Principal Investigator
The Owl Auditory-Cognitive Science Lab is housed in the Department of Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences at Southern Connecticut State University. The lab integrates hearing science, cognitive psychology, clinical audiology, and communication sciences while providing research training for undergraduate and graduate students.
Current emphasisAutistic listening experiences, speech-in-speech recognition, auditory processing, cognition, and listening-related fatigue.
Prior workInformational masking, voice segregation cues, spatial hearing, glimpsed audibility, and spoken-language comprehension.
Translational goalBetter alignment between laboratory measures, clinical assessment, and the listening challenges people experience in daily life.
Get in touch
Interested in our research?
Whether you are considering participation, interested in student research, or looking to discuss scientific collaboration, we welcome inquiries.
Contact the LabOwl Auditory-Cognitive Science Lab
Department of Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences
Southern Connecticut State University
SCSU Health and Human Services Building
493 Fitch St, New Haven, CT 06514
wasiukp1@southernct.edu
Department of Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences
Southern Connecticut State University
SCSU Health and Human Services Building
493 Fitch St, New Haven, CT 06514
wasiukp1@southernct.edu