scholarly journals Auditory enhancement under forward masking in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners

2019 ◽  
Vol 146 (5) ◽  
pp. 3448-3456
Author(s):  
Heather A. Kreft ◽  
Andrew J. Oxenham
Keyword(s):  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Forward Masking ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Auditory Enhancement

scholarly journals Auditory enhancement under simultaneous masking in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners

2018 ◽  
Vol 143 (2) ◽  
pp. 901-910 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather A. Kreft ◽  
Magdalena Wojtczak ◽  
Andrew J. Oxenham
Keyword(s):  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Auditory Enhancement

Auditory Time Constants for Off-Frequency Forward Masking in Normal-Hearing and Hearing-Impaired Listeners

1989 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 298-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Nelson ◽  
Rosemary Pavlov
Keyword(s):  
Time Constant ◽  
Exponential Model ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Forward Masking ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Time Constants ◽  
Temporal Masking ◽  
Short Term Adaptation ◽  
Probe Frequency ◽  
Parameter Values

Previous research has shown that frequency-specific estimates of auditory time constants for recovery from short-term adaptation can be made using a fixed-probe forward-masking procedure (Nelson & Freyman, 1987) if the masker and the probe stimuli are at the same frequency. This study examines the validity of time-constant estimates for off-frequency forward-masking conditions in which the masker frequency is below (900 Hz) or above (1100 Hz) the probe frequency (1000 Hz). Fixed-probe-level temporal masking functions were obtained from four normal-hearing and four hearing-impaired listeners. Auditory time constants were estimated with iterative least-squares procedures to derive parameter values for an exponential model of recovery from forward masking. After appropriate corrections were made for attenuation to the maskers provided by the auditory filter centered at the probe frequency, recovery from forward masking produced by either off-frequency or on-frequency maskers could be described by a single time constant. That time constant was around 50 ms in normal-hearing listeners and was larger in those hearing-impaired listeners who demonstrated moderate hearing loss at the probe frequency.

Evaluation of Auditory Enhancement and Auditory Suppression in Listeners With Normal Hearing and Reduced Speech Recognition in Noise

1996 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 947-956 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda M. Thibodeau
Keyword(s):  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Forward Masking ◽  
Auditory Enhancement ◽  
Auditory Suppression ◽  
Speech Recognition In Noise ◽  
Number Of Individuals ◽  
Normal Speech

A number of individuals complain of difficulties with speech recognition in noise in spite of normal hearing. This has prompted a search for disruptions in other areas of auditory processing that may account for these deficits. Two processes that may be related to speech recognition, auditory suppression and auditory enhancement, were evaluated in five listeners with normal speech recognition in noise (NSRN) and five listeners with reduced speech recognition in noise (RSRN). Although differences between the two groups were not observed for enhanced forward masking, significant differences were observed in two-tone suppression when the duration of the suppressor was varied. Those with RSRN showed greater suppression than those with NSRN when the suppressor onset preceded the masker onset.

Hearing Aid Amplification Reduces Communication Effort of People With Hearing Impairment and Their Conversation Partners

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 1299-1311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Beechey ◽  
Jörg M. Buchholz ◽  
Gitte Keidser
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Referential Communication ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Directional Hearing ◽  
Acoustic Environment ◽  
Communication Task ◽  
Acoustic Environments ◽  
The Impact

Objectives This study investigates the hypothesis that hearing aid amplification reduces effort within conversation for both hearing aid wearers and their communication partners. Levels of effort, in the form of speech production modifications, required to maintain successful spoken communication in a range of acoustic environments are compared to earlier reported results measured in unaided conversation conditions. Design Fifteen young adult normal-hearing participants and 15 older adult hearing-impaired participants were tested in pairs. Each pair consisted of one young normal-hearing participant and one older hearing-impaired participant. Hearing-impaired participants received directional hearing aid amplification, according to their audiogram, via a master hearing aid with gain provided according to the NAL-NL2 fitting formula. Pairs of participants were required to take part in naturalistic conversations through the use of a referential communication task. Each pair took part in five conversations, each of 5-min duration. During each conversation, participants were exposed to one of five different realistic acoustic environments presented through highly open headphones. The ordering of acoustic environments across experimental blocks was pseudorandomized. Resulting recordings of conversational speech were analyzed to determine the magnitude of speech modifications, in terms of vocal level and spectrum, produced by normal-hearing talkers as a function of both acoustic environment and the degree of high-frequency average hearing impairment of their conversation partner. Results The magnitude of spectral modifications of speech produced by normal-hearing talkers during conversations with aided hearing-impaired interlocutors was smaller than the speech modifications observed during conversations between the same pairs of participants in the absence of hearing aid amplification. Conclusions The provision of hearing aid amplification reduces the effort required to maintain communication in adverse conditions. This reduction in effort provides benefit to hearing-impaired individuals and also to the conversation partners of hearing-impaired individuals. By considering the impact of amplification on both sides of dyadic conversations, this approach contributes to an increased understanding of the likely impact of hearing impairment on everyday communication.

scholarly journals Perception of Auditory Distance in Normal-Hearing and Moderate-to-Profound Hearing-Impaired Listeners

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 233121651988761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilles Courtois ◽  
Vincent Grimaldi ◽  
Hervé Lissek ◽  
Philippe Estoppey ◽  
Eleftheria Georganti
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Spatial Cues ◽  
Linear Amplification ◽  
Profound Hearing Loss ◽  
Wireless Microphone ◽  
Auditory Distance ◽  
Non Linear

The auditory system allows the estimation of the distance to sound-emitting objects using multiple spatial cues. In virtual acoustics over headphones, a prerequisite to render auditory distance impression is sound externalization, which denotes the perception of synthesized stimuli outside of the head. Prior studies have found that listeners with mild-to-moderate hearing loss are able to perceive auditory distance and are sensitive to externalization. However, this ability may be degraded by certain factors, such as non-linear amplification in hearing aids or the use of a remote wireless microphone. In this study, 10 normal-hearing and 20 moderate-to-profound hearing-impaired listeners were instructed to estimate the distance of stimuli processed with different methods yielding various perceived auditory distances in the vicinity of the listeners. Two different configurations of non-linear amplification were implemented, and a novel feature aiming to restore a sense of distance in wireless microphone systems was tested. The results showed that the hearing-impaired listeners, even those with a profound hearing loss, were able to discriminate nearby and far sounds that were equalized in level. Their perception of auditory distance was however more contracted than in normal-hearing listeners. Non-linear amplification was found to distort the original spatial cues, but no adverse effect on the ratings of auditory distance was evident. Finally, it was shown that the novel feature was successful in allowing the hearing-impaired participants to perceive externalized sounds with wireless microphone systems.

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