scholarly journals Modulation of Auditory Signal-to-Noise Ratios by Efferent Stimulation

2006 ◽  
Vol 95 (6) ◽  
pp. 3562-3570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth M. Tomchik ◽  
Zhongmin Lu
Keyword(s):  
Signal Processing ◽  
Auditory System ◽  
Background Noise ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Auditory Signal ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Masking Noise ◽  
Auditory Efferent

One of the primary challenges that sensory systems face is extracting relevant information from background noise. In the auditory system, the ear receives efferent feedback, which may help it extract signals from noise. Here we directly test the hypothesis that efferent activity increases the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the ear, using the relatively simple teleost ear. Tone-evoked saccular potentials were recorded before and after efferent stimulation, and the SNR of the responses was calculated. In quiet conditions, efferent stimulation suppressed saccular responses to a tone, reducing the SNR. However, when masking noise was added, efferent stimulation increased the SNR of the saccular responses within a range of stimulus combinations. These data demonstrate that auditory efferent feedback can increase SNR in conditions where a signal is masked by noise, thereby enhancing the encoding of signals in noise. Efferent feedback thus performs a fundamental signal processing function, helping the animal to hear sounds in difficult listening conditions.

Speech in noise testing before and after grommet insertion

2012 ◽  
Vol 126 (10) ◽  
pp. 1010-1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
V Possamai ◽  
G Kirk ◽  
A Scott ◽  
D Skinner
Keyword(s):  
Small Group ◽  
Background Noise ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Sound Field ◽  
Noise Signal ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Speech In Noise ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Noise Test ◽  
Noise Ratio

AbstractObjectives:To assess the feasibility of designing and implementing a speech in noise test in children before and after grommet insertion, and to analyse the results of such a test in a small group of children.Methods:Twelve children aged six to nine years who were scheduled to undergo grommet insertion were identified. They underwent speech in noise testing before and after grommet insertion. This testing used Arthur Boothroyd word lists read at 60 dB in four listening conditions presented in a sound field: firstly in quiet conditions, then in signal to noise ratios of +10 (50 dB background noise), 0 (60 dB) and −10 (70 dB).Results:Mean phoneme scores were: in quiet conditions, 28.1 pre- and 30 post-operatively (p = 0.04); in 50 dB background noise (signal to noise ratio +10), 24.2 pre- and 29 post-operatively (p < 0.01); in 60 dB background noise (signal to noise ratio 0), 22.6 pre- and 27.5 post-operatively (p = 0.06); and in 70 dB background noise (signal to noise ratio −10), 13.9 pre- and 21 post-operatively (p = 0.05).Conclusion:This small study suggests that speech in noise testing is feasible in this scenario. Our small group of children demonstrated a significant improvement in speech in noise scores following grommet insertion. This is likely to translate into a significant advantage in the educational environment.

Selecting the Optimal FM System for Children With Cochlear Implants

2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24
Author(s):  
Erin C. Schafer
Keyword(s):  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Background Noise ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Speech Processor ◽  
System Input ◽  
Optimal Type

Children who use cochlear implants experience significant difficulty hearing speech in the presence of background noise, such as in the classroom. To address these difficulties, audiologists often recommend frequency-modulated (FM) systems for children with cochlear implants. The purpose of this article is to examine current empirical research in the area of FM systems and cochlear implants. Discussion topics will include selecting the optimal type of FM receiver, benefits of binaural FM-system input, importance of DAI receiver-gain settings, and effects of speech-processor programming on speech recognition. FM systems significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio at the child's ear through the use of three types of FM receivers: mounted speakers, desktop speakers, or direct-audio input (DAI). This discussion will aid audiologists in making evidence-based recommendations for children using cochlear implants and FM systems.

scholarly journals Stochastic resonance in periodically driven bistable systems subjected to anomalous diffusion

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Naha Nzoupe ◽  
Alain M. Dikandé
Keyword(s):  
Stochastic Resonance ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Planck Equation ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Periodic Signal ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Periodically Driven ◽  
Loop Area ◽  
Bistable Systems ◽  
Noise Ratio

AbstractThe occurrence of stochastic resonance in bistable systems undergoing anomalous diffusions, which arise from density-dependent fluctuations, is investigated with an emphasis on the analytical formulation of the problem as well as a possible analytical derivation of key quantifiers of stochastic resonance. The nonlinear Fokker–Planck equation describing the system dynamics, together with the corresponding Ito–Langevin equation, is formulated. In the linear response regime, analytical expressions of the spectral amplification, of the signal-to-noise ratio and of the hysteresis loop area are derived as quantifiers of stochastic resonance. These quantifiers are found to be strongly dependent on the parameters controlling the type of diffusion; in particular, the peak characterizing the signal-to-noise ratio occurs only in close ranges of parameters. Results introduce the relevant information that, taking into consideration the interactions of anomalous diffusive systems with a periodic signal, can provide a better understanding of the physics of stochastic resonance in bistable systems driven by periodic forces.

scholarly journals CMUT-Based Sensor for Acoustic Emission Application: Experimental and Theoretical Contributions to Sensitivity Optimization

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 2042
Author(s):  
Redha Boubenia ◽  
Patrice Le Moal ◽  
Gilles Bourbon ◽  
Emmanuel Ramasso ◽  
Eric Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Signal Processing ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Ultrasonic Transducer ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Coupling Conditions ◽  
Sensor Structure ◽  
Noise Ratio ◽  
Electrical Connections

The paper deals with a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT)-based sensor dedicated to the detection of acoustic emissions from damaged structures. This work aims to explore different ways to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and the sensitivity of such sensors focusing on the design and packaging of the sensor, electrical connections, signal processing, coupling conditions, design of the elementary cells and operating conditions. In the first part, the CMUT-R100 sensor prototype is presented and electromechanically characterized. It is mainly composed of a CMUT-chip manufactured using the MUMPS process, including 40 circular 100 µm radius cells and covering a frequency band from 310 kHz to 420 kHz, and work on the packaging, electrical connections and signal processing allowed the signal-to-noise ratio to be increased from 17 dB to 37 dB. In the second part, the sensitivity of the sensor is studied by considering two contributions: the acoustic-mechanical one is dependent on the coupling conditions of the layered sensor structure and the mechanical-electrical one is dependent on the conversion of the mechanical vibration to electrical charges. The acoustic-mechanical sensitivity is experimentally and numerically addressed highlighting the care to be taken in implementation of the silicon chip in the brass housing. Insertion losses of about 50% are experimentally observed on an acoustic test between unpackaged and packaged silicon chip configurations. The mechanical-electrical sensitivity is analytically described leading to a closed-form amplitude of the detected signal under dynamic excitation. Thus, the influence of geometrical parameters, material properties and operating conditions on sensitivity enhancement is clearly established: such as smaller electrostatic air gap, and larger thickness, Young’s modulus and DC bias voltage.

scholarly journals Evaluation of an Adaptive Dynamic Compensation System in Cochlear Implant Listeners

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 233121652097034
Author(s):  
Florian Langner ◽  
Andreas Büchner ◽  
Waldo Nogueira
Keyword(s):  
Signal Processing ◽  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Discrimination Task ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Compensation System ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Dynamic Compensation ◽  
Front End ◽  
Noise Ratio

Cochlear implant (CI) sound processing typically uses a front-end automatic gain control (AGC), reducing the acoustic dynamic range (DR) to control the output level and protect the signal processing against large amplitude changes. It can also introduce distortions into the signal and does not allow a direct mapping between acoustic input and electric output. For speech in noise, a reduction in DR can result in lower speech intelligibility due to compressed modulations of speech. This study proposes to implement a CI signal processing scheme consisting of a full acoustic DR with adaptive properties to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and overall speech intelligibility. Measurements based on the Short-Time Objective Intelligibility measure and an electrodogram analysis, as well as behavioral tests in up to 10 CI users, were used to compare performance with a single-channel, dual-loop, front-end AGC and with an adaptive back-end multiband dynamic compensation system (Voice Guard [VG]). Speech intelligibility in quiet and at a +10 dB signal-to-noise ratio was assessed with the Hochmair–Schulz–Moser sentence test. A logatome discrimination task with different consonants was performed in quiet. Speech intelligibility was significantly higher in quiet for VG than for AGC, but intelligibility was similar in noise. Participants obtained significantly better scores with VG than AGC in the logatome discrimination task. The objective measurements predicted significantly better performance estimates for VG. Overall, a dynamic compensation system can outperform a single-stage compression (AGC + linear compression) for speech perception in quiet.

Dual-Tree Wavelet Packet Transform for Ultrasonic Data Transmission Through Metal Structures

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinjiang Wang ◽  
Robert X. Gao ◽  
Xinyao Tang ◽  
Zhaoyan Fan ◽  
Peng Wang
Keyword(s):  
Signal Processing ◽  
Data Transmission ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Wavelet Packet ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Wavelet Packet Transform ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Metallic Structures ◽  
Time Frequency ◽  
Noise Ratio

Data communication through metallic structures is generally encountered in manufacturing equipment and process monitoring and control. This paper presents a signal processing technique for enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio and high-bit data transmission rate in ultrasound-based wireless data transmission through metallic structures. A multi-carrier coded-ultrasonic wave modulation scheme is firstly investigated to achieve high-bit data rate communication while reducing inter-symbol inference and data loss, due to the inherent signal attenuation, wave diffraction and reflection in metallic structures. To improve the signal-to-noise ratio, dual-tree wavelet packet transform (DT-WPT) has been investigated to separate multi-carrier signals under noise contamination, given its properties of shift-invariance and flexible time frequency partitioning. A new envelope extraction and threshold setting strategy for selected wavelet coefficients is then introduced to retrieve the coded digital information. Experimental studies are performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed signal processing method for manufacturing.

Detection and Recognition of Stop Consonants by Normal.Hearing and Hearing Impaired Listeners

1992 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 942-949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher W. Turner ◽  
David A. Fabry ◽  
Stephanie Barrett ◽  
Amy R. Horwitz
Keyword(s):  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Recognition Performance ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Stop Consonants ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Masking Noise ◽  
Noise Ratio ◽  
Detection And Recognition

This study examined the possibility that hearing-impaired listeners, in addition to displaying poorer-than-normal recognition of speech presented in background noise, require a larger signal-to-noise ratio for the detection of the speech sounds. Psychometric functions for the detection and recognition of stop consonants were obtained from both normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners. Expressing the speech levels in terms of their short-term spectra, the detection of consonants for both subject groups occurred at the same signal-to-noise ratio. In contrast, the hearing-impaired listeners displayed poorer recognition performance than the normal-hearing listeners. These results imply that the higher signal-to-noise ratios required for a given level of recognition by some subjects with hearing loss are not due in part to a deficit in detection of the signals in the masking noise, but rather are due exclusively to a deficit in recognition.

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