scholarly journals A Recommender System for Improving Median Plane Sound Localization Performance Based on a Nonlinear Representation of HRTFs

IEEE Access ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 24829-24836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Grijalva ◽  
Luiz Cesar Martini ◽  
Bruno Masiero ◽  
Siome Goldenstein
Keyword(s):  
Sound Localization ◽  
Recommender System ◽  
Median Plane ◽  
Plane Sound ◽  
Localization Performance ◽  
Nonlinear Representation

Sound Localization Using an Acoustical Telepresence Robot: TeleHead II

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 392-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iwaki Toshima ◽  
Shigeaki Aoki ◽  
Tatsuya Hirahara
Keyword(s):  
Sound Localization ◽  
Head Movement ◽  
Transfer Functions ◽  
Median Plane ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Head Shape ◽  
Telepresence Robot ◽  
Plane Sound ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Measurement Metric

TeleHead I is an acoustical telepresence robot that we built on the basis of the concept that remote sound localization could be best achieved by using a user-like dummy head whose movement synchronizes with the user's head movement in real time. We clarified the characteristics of the latest version of TeleHead I, TeleHead II, and verified the validity of this concept by sound localization experiments. TeleHead II can synchronize stably with the user's head movement with a 120-ms delay. The driving noise level measured through headphones is below 24 dB SPL from 1 to 4 kHz. The shape difference between the dummy head and the user is about 3% in head width and 5% in head length. An overall measurement metric indicated that the difference between the head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) of the dummy head and the modeled listener is about 5 dB. The results of the sound localization experiments using TeleHead II clarified that head movement improves horizontal-plane sound localization performance even when the dummy head shape differs from the user's head shape. In contrast, the results for head movement when the dummy head shape and user head shape are different were inconsistent in the median plane. The accuracy of sound localization when using the same-shape dummy head with movement tethered to the user's head movement was always good. These results show that the TeleHead concept is acceptable for building an acoustical telepresence robot. They also show that the physical characteristics of TeleHead II are sufficient for conducting sound localization experiments.

Amount of Frequency Compression in Bimodal Cochlear Implant Users Is a Poor Predictor for Audibility and Spatial Hearing

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Snandan Sharma ◽  
Waldo Nogueira ◽  
A. John van Opstal ◽  
Josef Chalupper ◽  
Lucas H. M. Mens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Sound Localization ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Spatial Hearing ◽  
Meaningful Improvement ◽  
Frequency Compression ◽  
Knee Point ◽  
Localization Performance

Purpose Speech understanding in noise and horizontal sound localization is poor in most cochlear implant (CI) users with a hearing aid (bimodal stimulation). This study investigated the effect of static and less-extreme adaptive frequency compression in hearing aids on spatial hearing. By means of frequency compression, we aimed to restore high-frequency audibility, and thus improve sound localization and spatial speech recognition. Method Sound-detection thresholds, sound localization, and spatial speech recognition were measured in eight bimodal CI users, with and without frequency compression. We tested two compression algorithms: a static algorithm, which compressed frequencies beyond the compression knee point (160 or 480 Hz), and an adaptive algorithm, which aimed to compress only consonants leaving vowels unaffected (adaptive knee-point frequencies from 736 to 2946 Hz). Results Compression yielded a strong audibility benefit (high-frequency thresholds improved by 40 and 24 dB for static and adaptive compression, respectively), no meaningful improvement in localization performance (errors remained > 30 deg), and spatial speech recognition across all participants. Localization biases without compression (toward the hearing-aid and implant side for low- and high-frequency sounds, respectively) disappeared or reversed with compression. The audibility benefits provided to each bimodal user partially explained any individual improvements in localization performance; shifts in bias; and, for six out of eight participants, benefits in spatial speech recognition. Conclusions We speculate that limiting factors such as a persistent hearing asymmetry and mismatch in spectral overlap prevent compression in bimodal users from improving sound localization. Therefore, the benefit in spatial release from masking by compression is likely due to a shift of attention to the ear with the better signal-to-noise ratio facilitated by compression, rather than an improved spatial selectivity. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.16869485

Predicting the effect of hearing-protection devices on horizontal-plane sound localization

2021 ◽  
Vol 150 (4) ◽  
pp. A340-A340
Author(s):  
Nathaniel J. Spencer ◽  
Zachariah N. Ennis ◽  
Natalie Jackson ◽  
Brian D. Simpson ◽  
Eric R. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Sound Localization ◽  
Horizontal Plane ◽  
Hearing Protection ◽  
Plane Sound ◽  
Protection Devices

Left-Right and Front-Back Spatial Hearing with Multiple Directional Microphone Configurations in Modern Hearing Aids

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (09) ◽  
pp. 791-803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyne Carette ◽  
Tim Van den Bogaert ◽  
Mark Laureyns ◽  
Jan Wouters
Keyword(s):  
Sound Localization ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Performance Measure ◽  
Frequency Dependent ◽  
Binaural Cues ◽  
Directional Microphone ◽  
Spectral Cues ◽  
Localization Performance ◽  
Asymmetric Configuration

Background: Several studies have demonstrated negative effects of directional microphone configurations on left-right and front-back (FB) sound localization. New processing schemes, such as frequency-dependent directionality and front focus with wireless ear-to-ear communication in recent, commercial hearing aids may preserve the binaural cues necessary for left-right localization and may introduce useful spectral cues necessary for FB disambiguation. Purpose: In this study, two hearing aids with different processing schemes, which were both designed to preserve the ability to localize sounds in the horizontal plane (left-right and FB), were compared. Research Design: We compared horizontal (left-right and FB) sound localization performance of hearing aid users fitted with two types of behind-the-ear (BTE) devices. The first type of BTE device had four different programs that provided (1) no directionality, (2–3) symmetric frequency-dependent directionality, and (4) an asymmetric configuration. The second pair of BTE devices was evaluated in its omnidirectional setting. This setting automatically activates a soft forward-oriented directional scheme that mimics the pinna effect. Also, wireless communication between the hearing aids was present in this configuration (5). A broadband stimulus was used as a target signal. The directional hearing abilities of the listeners were also evaluated without hearing aids as a reference. Study Sample: A total of 12 listeners with moderate to severe hearing loss participated in this study. All were experienced hearing-aid users. As a reference, 11 listeners with normal hearing participated. Data Collection and Analysis: The participants were positioned in a 13-speaker array (left-right, –90°/+90°) or 7-speaker array (FB, 0–180°) and were asked to report the number of the loudspeaker located the closest to where the sound was perceived. The root mean square error was calculated for the left-right experiment, and the percentage of FB errors was used as a FB performance measure. Results were analyzed with repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: For the left-right localization task, no significant differences could be proven between the unaided condition and both partial directional schemes and the omnidirectional scheme. The soft forward-oriented system and the asymmetric system did show a detrimental effect compared with the unaided condition. On average, localization was worst when users used the asymmetric condition. Analysis of the results of the FB experiment showed good performance, similar to unaided, with both the partial directional systems and the asymmetric configuration. Significantly worse performance was found with the omnidirectional and the omnidirectional soft forward-oriented BTE systems compared with the other hearing-aid systems. Conclusions: Bilaterally fitted partial directional systems preserve (part of) the binaural cues necessary for left-right localization and introduce, preserve, or enhance useful spectral cues that allow FB disambiguation. Omnidirectional systems, although good for left-right localization, do not provide the user with enough spectral information for an optimal FB localization performance.

scholarly journals Sound-localization performance of patients with single-sided deafness is not improved when listening with a bone-conduction device

2019 ◽  
Vol 372 ◽  
pp. 62-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martijn J.H. Agterberg ◽  
Ad F.M. Snik ◽  
Rens M.G. Van de Goor ◽  
Myrthe K.S. Hol ◽  
A. John Van Opstal
Keyword(s):  
Sound Localization ◽  
Bone Conduction ◽  
Localization Performance ◽  
Single Sided Deafness ◽  
Bone Conduction Device
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