Talker Separation and Sequential Stream Segregation in Listeners With Hearing Loss

2003 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 912-918 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol L. Mackersie
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Stream Segregation ◽  
Frequency Separation ◽  
Fixed Frequency ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Group Data ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Perceptual Separation

The purpose of this paper was to examine the relations between the ability to separate simultaneous sentences spoken by talkers of different gender and the ability to separate pitch patterns in a sequential stream segregation task. Simultaneous sentence pairs consisting of 1 sentence spoken by a male talker and 1 sentence spoken by a female talker were presented to 11 listeners with sensorineural hearing loss. Listeners were asked to repeat both sentences and were scored on the number of words repeated correctly. Separate scores were obtained for the male and female sentences. Sequential stream segregation was then measured using series of tones consisting of a fixed frequency (A) and a varying frequency tone (B). Tone series were presented in an ABA_ABA_... pattern starting at a varying frequency either below (ascending pattern) or above (descending pattern) the frequency of the fixed 1000 Hz tone. Fusion thresholds, defined as the frequency separation at which listeners could no longer perceptually separate the tones A and B, were obtained for both ascending and descending patterns. There was no significant difference between ascending and descending fusion thresholds based on the group data, but substantial individual differences were observed. Speech recognition scores for the male talker were strongly related to ascending fusion thresholds, but not descending thresholds. In contrast, speech recognition scores for the female talker were strongly related to the descending thresholds, but not the ascending thresholds. For both the male and female talkers, better recognition scores were associated with lower (nearer to normal) fusion thresholds. Results suggest that the importance of streaming in the perceptual separation of talkers may depend on the nature of the information provided by the changing pitch stream.

scholarly journals Factors Underlying Individual Differences in Speech-Recognition Threshold (SRT) in Noise Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry E. Humes
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Detection Threshold ◽  
Recognition Threshold ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Group Data ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence

Many older adults have difficulty understanding speech in noisy backgrounds. In this study, we examined peripheral auditory, higher-level auditory, and cognitive factors that may contribute to such difficulties. A convenience sample of 137 volunteer older adults, 90 women, and 47 men, ranging in age from 47 to 94 years (M = 69.2 and SD = 10.1 years) completed a large battery of tests. Auditory tests included measures of pure-tone threshold, clinical and psychophysical, as well as two measures of gap-detection threshold and four measures of temporal-order identification. The latter included two monaural and two dichotic listening conditions. In addition, cognition was assessed using the complete Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-3rd Edition (WAIS-III). Two monaural measures of speech-recognition threshold (SRT) in noise, the QuickSIN, and the WIN, were obtained from each ear at relatively high presentation levels of 93 or 103 dB SPL to minimize audibility concerns. Group data, both aggregate and by age decade, were evaluated initially to allow comparison to data in the literature. Next, following the application of principal-components factor analysis for data reduction, individual differences in speech-recognition-in-noise performance were examined using multiple-linear-regression analyses. Excellent fits were obtained, accounting for 60–77% of the total variance, with most accounted for by the audibility of the speech and noise stimuli and the severity of hearing loss with the balance primarily associated with cognitive function.

Pinna of ear: a potential biometric identifier

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. 3843
Author(s):  
Maitreyee M.
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Future ◽  
Distinctive Structure ◽  
High Possibility ◽  
Lobe Width

Background: Individual differences in morphometric and somatoscopic observations of pinna of ear were studied to explore the potential of pinna of ear as a biometric tool.Methods: Morphometric and somatoscopic data of right ear of 350 Indian individuals (Age: 17-25 years) was collected. Measurements of pinna length, pinna width, pinna root, pinna projection, intertragic distance, ear lobe length, and ear lobe width were taken. Observations were done for presence or absence of Darwin tubercle, flat or rolled helix, and attached or free ear lobe. Probability statistics was extrapolated to assess the variations in ear pinna characters.Results: All measurements showed a wide range. There was statistically significant difference between male and female pinna measurements. The somatoscopic observations showed 82.9% individuals with presence of Darwin tubercle, 99.1% with rolled helix, and 65.4% with free ear lobes. On the basis of extrapolation of ten different morphometric and somatoscopic parameters, the statistics showed the probability of any two individuals having exactly same observations to be 0.0008%.Conclusions: The wide range of measurements in the present study suggested a high possibility of variations amongst the population. If all the parameters including both morphometric and somatoscopic, are taken into consideration, the pinna of ear of each individual is a very distinctive structure, which makes it a potential biometric identifier and with the use of proper technologies, it will be a widely used biometric tool in the future.

scholarly journals Effect of Speaker Age on Speech Recognition and Perceived Listening Effort in Older Adults With Hearing Loss

2012 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 838-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan J. McAuliffe ◽  
Phillipa J. Wilding ◽  
Natalie A. Rickard ◽  
Greg A. O'Beirne
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Signal Quality ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Listening Effort ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Perceived Effort ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Significant Difference

Purpose Older adults exhibit difficulty understanding speech that has been experimentally degraded. Age-related changes to the speech mechanism lead to natural degradations in signal quality. We tested the hypothesis that older adults with hearing loss would exhibit declines in speech recognition when listening to the speech of older adults, compared with the speech of younger adults, and would report greater amounts of listening effort in this task. Method Nineteen individuals with age-related hearing loss completed speech recognition and listening effort scaling tasks. Both were conducted in quiet, when listening to high- and low-predictability phrases produced by younger and older speakers, respectively. Results No significant difference in speech recognition existed when stimuli were derived from younger or older speakers. However, perceived effort was significantly higher when listening to speech from older adults, as compared with younger adults. Conclusions For older individuals with hearing loss, natural degradations in signal quality may require greater listening effort. However, they do not interfere with speech recognition—at least in quiet. Follow-up investigation of the effect of speaker age on speech recognition and listening effort under more challenging noise conditions appears warranted.

scholarly journals Burden, Stress and Coping Strategies of Intellectually Disabled Children

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Thiyam Kiran Singh ◽  
Priyanka Panday
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Female Group ◽  
Disabled Children ◽  
Intellectually Disabled ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Group Data ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
And Coping

Aim of this research is to find out the burden, stress and coping strategies of intellectually disabled children on parents. In this study two groups one is male and other is female were selected. A total of 51 samples were collected out of which 26 are Male group and 25 are Female group. Data were collected from SMS Psychiatry Centre, Jaipur. Tools used for data collection are caregiver burden questionnaire developed by Kaur and Arora (2010), Perceived stress scale by Cohen (1983), Coping inventory by Carver and Scheier (1989). In this study 2×2 factorial design was adopted for analyzing data. The Result of this study showed there is significant difference between male and female on burden indicating higher burden on male parents. There is significant difference of stress between male and female parents indicating higher perceived stress on female parents. There is significant difference between male and female parents on coping indicating male parents are having good coping skills in comparison to female parents. The study concluded that male parents are getting more burden, female parents gets more stress and when concerned about coping male parents are good in coping strategies than female parents.

The Role of Sequential Stream Segregation and Frequency Selectivity in the Perception of Simultaneous Sentences by Listeners With Sensorineural Hearing Loss

2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol L. Mackersie ◽  
Tammy L. Prida ◽  
Derek Stiles
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Frequency Selectivity ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing ◽  
Stream Segregation ◽  
Cognitive Factors ◽  
Fixed Frequency ◽  
Tone Signal

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of frequency selectivity and sequential stream segregation in the perception of simultaneous sentences by listeners with sensorineural hearing loss. Simultaneous sentence perception was tested in listeners with normal hearing and with sensorineural hearing loss using sentence pairs consisting of one sentence spoken by a male talker and one sentence spoken by a female talker. Listeners were asked to repeat both sentences and were scored on the number of words repeated correctly in each sentence. Separate scores were obtained for the first and second sentences repeated. Frequency selectivity was assessed using a notched-noise method in which thresholds for a 1000 Hz pure-tone signal were measured in noise with spectral notch bandwidths of 0, 300, and 600 Hz. Sequential stream segregation was measured using tone sequences consisting of a fixed frequency (A) and a varying frequency tone (B). Tone sequences were presented in an ABA_ABA_... pattern starting at a frequency (B) either below or above the frequency of the fixed 1000 Hz tone (A). Initially, the frequency difference was large and was gradually decreased until listeners indicated that they could no longer perceptually separate the two tones (fusion threshold). Scores for the first sentence repeated decreased significantly with increasing age. There was a strong relationship between fusion threshold and simultaneous sentence perception, which remained even after partialling out the effects of age. Smaller frequency differences at fusion thresholds were associated with higher sentence scores. There was no relationship between frequency selectivity and simultaneous sentence perception. Results suggest that the abilities to perceptually separate pitch patterns and separate sentences spoken simultaneously by different talkers are mediated by the same underlying perceptual and/or cognitive factors.

Evaluation of Nonlinear Frequency Compression for School-Age Children with Moderate to Moderately Severe Hearing Loss

2010 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 618-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jace Wolfe ◽  
Andrew John ◽  
Erin Schafer ◽  
Myriel Nyffeler ◽  
Michael Boretzki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Nonlinear Frequency ◽  
Speech Sounds ◽  
Severe Hearing Loss ◽  
Frequency Compression ◽  
Digital Hearing Aids ◽  
Significant Difference

Background: Previous research has indicated that children with moderate hearing loss experience difficulty with recognition of high-frequency speech sounds, such as fricatives and affricates. Conventional behind-the-ear (BTE) amplification typically does not provide ample output in the high frequencies (4000 Hz and beyond) to ensure optimal audibility for these sounds. Purpose: To evaluate nonlinear frequency compression (NLFC) as a means to improve speech recognition for children with moderate to moderately severe hearing loss. Research Design: Within subject, crossover design with repeated measures across test conditions. Study Sample: Fifteen children, aged 5–13 yr, with moderate to moderately severe high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss were fitted with Phonak Nios, microsized, BTE hearing aids. These children were previous users of digital hearing aids and communicated via spoken language. Their speech and language abilities were age-appropriate. Data Collection and Analysis: Aided thresholds and speech recognition in quiet and in noise were assessed after 6 wk of use with NLFC and 6 wk of use without NLFC. Participants were randomly assigned to counter-balanced groups so that eight participants began the first 6 wk trial with NLFC enabled and the other seven participants started with NLFC disabled. Then, the provision of NLFC was switched for the second 6 wk trial. Speech recognition in quiet was assessed via word recognition assessments with the University of Western Ontario (UWO) Plural Test and recognition of vowel-consonant-vowel nonsense syllables with the Phonak Logatome test. Speech recognition in noise was assessed by evaluating the signal-to-noise ratio in dB for 50% correct performance on the Bamford-Kowal-Bench Speech-in-Noise (BKB-SIN) test, an adaptive test of speech perception in a multitalker babble background. Results: Aided thresholds for high-frequency stimuli were significantly better when NLFC was enabled, and use of NLFC resulted in significantly better speech recognition in quiet for the UWO Plural Test and for the phonemes /d/ and /s/ on the Phonak Logatome test. There was not a statistically significant difference in performance on the BKB-SIN test between the NLFC enabled and disabled conditions. Conclusions: These results indicate that NLFC improves audibility for and recognition of high-frequency speech sounds for children with moderate to moderately severe hearing loss in quiet listening situations.

Factors Affecting the Recognition of Reverberant Speech by Elderly Listeners

2000 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 414-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan C. Halling ◽  
Larry E. Humes
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Recognition Performance ◽  
Hearing Threshold ◽  
Speech Understanding ◽  
Processing Efficiency ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Impairment ◽  
Reverberant Speech

Elderly listeners have been shown to experience greater difficulty with speech understanding than young listeners. The greater difficulty with speech understanding in elderly listeners has been attributed, primarily, to their typical high-frequency sensorineural hearing impairment. However, not all of the observed difficulty can be accounted for by hearing thresholds, leaving the likelihood of additional suprathreshold processing deficits. This study investigates speech understanding in older people and the relative contributions of hearing threshold and age to speech understanding. Considering that temporal processing is thought to affect speech understanding, the study also assesses the contributions of hearing loss and age to modulation-preservation performance. Finally, individual differences in hearing loss, age, and modulation-preservation performance are examined to see if they are closely associated with individual differences in speech-recognition ability, especially among older listeners. The results of the study suggest that hearing loss is closely tied to both speech-recognition performance and to measures of modulation preservation. Although some of the analyses at first indicated an effect of age, it was shown that this could be attributed in part to slight elevations in hearing threshold. Finally, it was shown that individual differences in hearing loss and measures of modulation preservation and processing efficiency in noise are associated with speech-recognition performance and that, given these measures, speech recognition can be predicted quite accurately.

scholarly journals Difference in Speech Recognition between a Default and Programmed Telecoil Program

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (06) ◽  
pp. 502-515
Author(s):  
Kimberly T. Ledda ◽  
Michael Valente ◽  
Kristi Oeding ◽  
Dorina Kallogjeri
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Frequency Response ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Telephone Communication ◽  
Speech Stimuli ◽  
Monosyllabic Words ◽  
The Impact

AbstractHearing loss can lead to isolation and social withdrawal. The telephone oftentimes connects persons with hearing loss to society; however, telephone use is impeded by narrow bandwidth, loss of visual cues, electromagnetic interference, and inherent phone-line noise. In the past, research assessing telephone communication has consistently reported that switching from the microphone to a telecoil will typically result in the acoustic signal being discernibly softer. Properly used telecoils improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), decrease the chance for acoustic feedback, and overcome the impact of distance and reverberation creating an opportunity for clearer telephone communication. Little research, however, has examined matching the telecoil frequency response to the prescribed target of the microphone frequency response (National Acoustics Laboratories, Non-Linear, version 1 [NAL-NL1]).The primary goal of this study was to determine if differences exist in speech recognition for sentences (AZ-BIO) and consonant–vowel nucleus-consonant monosyllabic words (CNC) between two telecoil conditions (default and programmed). A secondary goal was to determine if differences exist in speech recognition for sentences between male and female talkers.A single-blinded randomized controlled trial.Twenty experienced adult hearing aid users with bilateral symmetric slight to severe sensorineural hearing loss were recruited from Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. In addition, ten normal-hearing participants were recruited to determine the presentation level of the speech stimuli for the hearing aid participants.Participants underwent real-ear measures to program the microphone frequency response of a receiver-in-the-canal hearing aid to NAL-NL1. Using the manufacturer software, one telecoil program remained as the manufacturer default and a second telecoil program was programmed so the sound pressure level for an inductive telephone simulator frequency response matching the microphone’s frequency response to obtain as close to a 0 dB relative simulated equivalent telephone sensitivity value as possible. Participants then completed speech recognition measures including AZ-BIO sentences (male and female talkers) and CNC monosyllabic words and phonemes, using both telecoil programs. A mixed model analysis was performed to examine if significant differences in speech recognition exist between the two conditions and speech stimuli.Results revealed significant improvement in overall speech recognition for the programmed telecoil performance compared with default telecoil performance (p < 0.001). Also, improved performance in the programmed telecoil was reported with a male talker (p < 0.001) and performance for sentences compared with monosyllabic words (p < 0.001) or phonemes (p < 0.001).The programmed telecoil condition revealed significant improvement in speech recognition for all speech stimuli conditions compared with the default telecoil (sentences, monosyllables, and phonemes). Additional improvement was observed in both telecoil conditions when the talker was male.

scholarly journals Development of Social Skills: A Study Comparing Male and Female Students' Social Skills in Public Schools of Lahore

2020 ◽  
Vol V (III) ◽  
pp. 259-268
Author(s):  
Tallat Rashid ◽  
Kiran Shehzadi ◽  
Farzana Yousaf
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Social Skills ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Social Skill ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Elementary Level ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Significant Difference

The study explored the developed social skills between male and female students at the elementary level. A total of 550 Students were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling in the district of Lahore. Explored social skills included accepting criticism, showing respect, solving problems, accepting rights & responsibilities and tolerance of individual differences. A scale consisting of sixty-nine items was developed and standardized through factor analysis. The instrument was checked and ensured for reliability measures using Cronbach's Alpha (r = .75, p < .05). Five factors were identified through exploratory factor analysis using the principal component matrix measuring students' level of social skills at the elementary level. Results of the study showed statistically significant difference based on the gender of the student for the subscale "accepting criticism", revealing male students being more developed in social skill compared to their female counterparts, whereas female students were found more mature for the social skill requiring tolerance of individual differences as compared to male students. The study has implications for future researchers and school authorities.

Speech-Language Pathologists' Perceptions of School-Based Services for Children With Hearing Loss

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 469-478
Author(s):  
Sarah Allen ◽  
Robert Mayo
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Working Relationships ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
School Based ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Positive Feelings ◽  
Children With Hearing Loss ◽  
Perceptions Of School

Purpose School-aged children with hearing loss are best served by a multidisciplinary team of professionals. The purpose of this research was to assess school-based speech-language pathologists' (SLPs) perceptions of their access to, involvement of, and working relationships with educational audiologists in their current work setting. Method An online survey was developed and distributed to school-based SLPs in North Carolina. Results A significant difference in access to and involvement of educational audiologists across the state was found. Conclusions This research contributes to professional knowledge by providing information about current perceptions in the field about interprofessional practice in a school-based setting. Overall, SLPs reported positive feelings about their working relationship with educational audiologists and feel the workload is distributed fairly.

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