Binaural weighting of monaural spectral cues for sound localization

2007 ◽  
Vol 121 (6) ◽  
pp. 3677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewan A. Macpherson ◽  
Andrew T. Sabin
Keyword(s):  
Sound Localization ◽  
Spectral Cues ◽  
Monaural Spectral Cues

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.

The contribution of spectral cues to human sound localization

1999 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 1036-1036 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erno H. Langendijk ◽  
Adelbert W. Bronkhorst
Keyword(s):  
Sound Localization ◽  
Spectral Cues

Contribution of spectral cues to human sound localization

2002 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 1583-1596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erno H. A. Langendijk ◽  
Adelbert W. Bronkhorst
Keyword(s):  
Sound Localization ◽  
Spectral Cues

scholarly journals Modeling perceived externalization of a static, lateral sound image

Acta Acustica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Song Li ◽  
Robert Baumgartner ◽  
Jürgen Peissig
Keyword(s):  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Acoustic Environment ◽  
Spectral Cues ◽  
Sound Image ◽  
Reverberant Environments ◽  
Contralateral Ear ◽  
Monaural Spectral Cues ◽  
Interaural Level Differences

Perceived externalization is a relevant feature to create an immersive acoustic environment with headphone reproduction. In the present study, listener-specific acoustic transfer characteristics for an azimuth angle of 90° were modified to investigate the role of monaural spectral cues, interaural level differences (ILDs), and temporal fluctuations of ILDs on perceived externalization in anechoic and reverberant environments. Listeners’ ratings suggested that each acoustic cue was important for perceived externalization. If only one correct acoustic cue remained in the ear signals, the sound image could not be perceived as fully externalized. Reverberation did reduce but not eliminate the influences of monaural spectral and ILD cues on perceived externalization. Additionally, the spectral details of the ipsilateral ear signal were more important for perceived externalization than those in the contralateral ear signal. A computational model was proposed to quantify those relationships and predict externalization ratings by comparing the acoustic cues extracted from the target (modified) and template (non-processed) binaural signals after several auditory processing steps. The accuracy of predicted externalization ratings was higher than 90% under all experimental conditions.

Spectral Cues for Robust Sound Localization with Pinnae

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoko Shimoda ◽  
Toru Nakashima ◽  
Makoto Kumon ◽  
Ryuichi Kohzawa ◽  
Ikuro Mizumoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sound Localization ◽  
Spectral Cues
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