How Do Age and Hearing Loss Impact Spectral Envelope Perception?

Purpose The goal was to evaluate the potential effects of increasing hearing loss and advancing age on spectral envelope perception. Method Spectral modulation detection was measured as a function of spectral modulation frequency from 0.5 to 8.0 cycles/octave. The spectral modulation task involved discrimination of a noise carrier (3 octaves wide from 400 to 3200 Hz) with a flat spectral envelope from a noise having a sinusoidal spectral envelope across a logarithmic audio frequency scale. Spectral modulation transfer functions (SMTFs; modulation threshold vs. modulation frequency) were computed and compared 4 listener groups: young normal hearing, older normal hearing, older with mild hearing loss, and older with moderate hearing loss. Estimates of the internal spectral contrast were obtained by computing excitation patterns. Results SMTFs for young listeners with normal hearing were bandpass with a minimum modulation detection threshold at 2 cycles/octave, and older listeners with normal hearing were remarkably similar to those of the young listeners. SMTFs for older listeners with mild and moderate hearing loss had a low-pass rather than a bandpass shape. Excitation patterns revealed that limited spectral resolution dictated modulation detection thresholds at high but not low spectral modulation frequencies. Even when factoring out (presumed) differences in frequency resolution among groups, the spectral envelope perception was worse for the group with moderate hearing loss than the other 3 groups. Conclusions The spectral envelope perception as measured by spectral modulation detection thresholds is compromised by hearing loss at higher spectral modulation frequencies, consistent with predictions of reduced spectral resolution known to accompany sensorineural hearing loss. Spectral envelope perception is not negatively impacted by advancing age at any spectral modulation frequency between 0.5 and 8.0 cycles/octave.

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Limiting Spectral Resolution in Speech for Listeners With Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/jslhr.4204.773 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 42 (4) ◽

pp. 773-784 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Christopher W. Turner ◽

Siu-Ling Chi ◽

Sarah Flock

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽

Spectral Resolution ◽

Present Experiment ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Hearing Impaired ◽

Sensorineural Hearing ◽

Frequency Resolution ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Speech Condition

Consonant recognition was measured as a function of the degree of spectral resolution of the speech stimulus in normally hearing listeners and listeners with moderate sensorineural hearing loss. Previous work (Turner, Souza, and Forget, 1995) has shown that listeners with sensorineural hearing loss could recognize consonants as well as listeners with normal hearing when speech was processed to have only one channel of spectral resolution. The hypothesis tested in the present experiment was that when speech was limited to a small number of spectral channels, both normally hearing and hearing-impaired listeners would continue to perform similarly. As the stimuli were presented with finer degrees of spectral resolution, and the poorer-than-normal spectral resolving abilities of the hearing-impaired listeners became a limiting factor, one would predict that the performance of the hearing-impaired listeners would then become poorer than the normally hearing listeners. Previous research on the frequency-resolution abilities of listeners with mild-to-moderate hearing loss suggests that these listeners have critical bandwidths three to four times larger than do listeners with normal hearing. In the present experiment, speech stimuli were processed to have 1, 2, 4, or 8 channels of spectral information. Results for the 1-channel speech condition were consistent with the previous study in that both groups of listeners performed similarly. However, the hearing-impaired listeners performed more poorly than the normally hearing listeners for all other conditions, including the 2-channel speech condition. These results would appear to contradict the original hypothesis, in that listeners with moderate sensorineural hearing loss would be expected to have at least 2 channels of frequency resolution. One possibility is that the frequency resolution of hearing-impaired listeners may be much poorer than previously estimated; however, a subsequent filtered speech experiment did not support this explanation. The present results do indicate that although listeners with hearing loss are able to use the temporal-envelope information of a single channel in a normal fashion, when given the opportunity to combine information across more than one channel, they show deficient performance.

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Modulation Detection, Modulation Masking, and Speech Understanding in Noise in the Elderly

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/jshr.3506.1410 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. 1410-1421 ◽

Cited By ~ 148

Author(s):

Gail A. Takahashi ◽

Sid P. Bacon

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽

Background Noise ◽

Modulation Frequency ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Broadband Noise ◽

Sensorineural Hearing ◽

Detection Sensitivity ◽

Speech Understanding ◽

Modulation Detection

Temporal processing of suprathreshold sounds was examined in a group of young normalhearing subjects (mean age of 26.0 years), and in three groups of older subjects (mean ages of 54.3, 64.8, and 72.2 years) with normal hearing or mild sensorineural hearing loss. Three experiments were performed. In the first experiment (modulation detection), subjects were asked to detect sinusoidal amplitude modulation (SAM) of a broadband noise, for modulation frequencies ranging from 2–1024 Hz. In the second experiment (modulation masking), the task was to detect a SAM signal (modulation frequency of 8 Hz) in the presence of a 100%-modulated SAM masker. Masker modulation frequency ranged from 2–64 Hz. In the final experiment, speech understanding was measured as a function of signal-to-noise ratio in both an unmodulated background noise and in a SAM background noise that had a modulation frequency of 8 Hz and a modulation depth of 100%. Except for a very modest correlation between age and modulation detection sensitivity at low modulation frequencies, there were no significant effects of age once the effect of hearing loss was taken into account. The results of the experiments suggest, however, that subjects with even a mild sensorineural hearing loss may have difficulty with a modulation masking task, and may not understand speech as well as normal-hearing subjects do in a modulated noise background.

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The Effects of Duration and Level on Spectral Modulation Perception

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2019_jslhr-h-18-0449 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 62 (10) ◽

pp. 3876-3886 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sittiprapa Isarangura ◽

Ann C. Eddins ◽

Erol J. Ozmeral ◽

David A. Eddins

Keyword(s):

Speech Perception ◽

Stimulus Duration ◽

Auditory Perception ◽

Standard Stimulus ◽

Modulation Frequency ◽

Plain Language ◽

Detection Thresholds ◽

Spectral Modulation ◽

Presentation Level ◽

Modulation Detection

Purpose Spectral modulation detection is an increasingly common assay of suprathreshold auditory perception and has been correlated with speech perception performance. Here, the potential effects of stimulus duration and stimulus presentation level on spectral modulation detection were investigated. Method Spectral modulation detection thresholds were measured as a function of modulation frequency in young, normal-hearing listeners. The standard stimulus was a bandpass noise, and signal stimuli were created by superimposing sinusoidal spectral modulation on the bandpass noise carrier. The modulation was sinusoidal on a log 2 frequency axis and a log 10 (dB) amplitude scale with a random starting phase (0–2π radians). In 1 experiment, stimulus durations were 50, 100, 200, or 400 ms (at fixed level 81 dB SPL). In a 2nd experiment, stimuli were presented at sensation levels of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 60 dB SL (fixed at a duration of 400 ms). Results Spectral modulation detection thresholds were similarly low for the 400- and 200-ms durations, increased slightly for the 100-ms duration, and increased markedly for the 50-ms duration. Thresholds were lowest for 40 dB SL; increased slightly for 20, 30, and 60 dB SL; and markedly higher for the 10–dB SL condition. Conclusions The increase in thresholds for the shortest durations and lowest sensational levels is consistent with previous investigations of auditory spectral profile analysis. The effects of presentation level and stimulus duration are important considerations in the context of understanding potential relationships between the perception of spectral cues and speech perception, when designing investigations and interpreting data related to spectral envelope perception, and in the context of models of auditory perception. As examples, 2 simple models based on auditory nerve output that have been used to explain spectrotemporal modulation in previous investigations produced an output inconsistent with the present results. Plain language summary Intensity variations across audio frequency lead to spectral shapes that are essential and sometimes signature features of various sounds in the environment, including speech. Here, we show how laboratory measures of spectral shape perception depend on presentation level and stimulus duration.

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An Evaluation of the Relationship between Retinal Nerve Fiber Thickness, Cochlear Nerve Thickness, the Level of Tinnitus, and Hearing Loss in Unilateral Tinnitus Patients

Audiology and Neurotology ◽

10.1159/000512004 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Mustafa Avcu ◽

Mehmet Metin ◽

Raşit Kılıç ◽

Muhammed Alpaslan

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Nerve Fiber ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Cochlear Nerve ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Relationship ◽

Fiber Thickness ◽

Moderate Hearing Loss ◽

Group 1 ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber

Background: In this study, optic coherence tomography (OCT) examination was performed to check whether there was any interaction between ophthalmic axonal structures in unilateral tinnitus patients, and the relationship between optic nerve thickness and cochlear nerve thickness was evaluated. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the relatioship between hearing loss, tinnitus, and nerve thicknesses. Study Design: Prospective study. Setting: Tertiary referral university hospital. Patients: The study included 88 patients with unilateral tinnitus, for which no organic cause could be found in physical examination, psychiatric evaluation, or with imaging methods. Study groups were formed of the tinnitus side and control groups were formed of the healthy side as follows: Group 1 (Non-tinnitus side normal hearing values – n = 30), Group 2 (non-tinnitus side minimal hearing loss – n = 27), Group 3 (non-tinnitus side moderate hearing loss – n = 31), Group 4 (tinnitus side normal hearing values – n = 25), Group 5 (tinnitus side minimal hearing loss – n = 25), and Group 6 (tinnitus side moderate hearing loss – n = 38). Intervention: Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was evaluated with OCT, and the cochlear nerve cross-sectional area was evaluated with MRI. Main Outcome Measures: RNFL measurements were taken with OCT from the subfoveal area (RNFL-SF) and 1.5 mm temporal to the fovea (RNFL-T µm) and nasal (RNFL-N µm) sectors. On MRI, 3 measurements were taken along the nerve from the cerebellopontine angle as far as the internal auditory canal, and the mean value of these 3 measurements was calculated. Results: When the groups were evaluated in respect of cochlear nerve thickness, a significant difference was seen between Group 1 and both the groups with hearing loss and the tinnitus groups. In the subgroup analysis, a statistically significant difference was determined between Group 1 and Groups 3, 4, 5, and 6 (p = 0.013, p = 0.003, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). When the groups were evaluated in respect of the RNFL-SF (µm), RNFL-T (µm), and RNFL-N (µm) values, the differences were determined to be statistically significant (p < 0.001 for all). In the correlation analysis, a negative correlation was determined between hearing loss and cochlear nerve diameter (r: −0.184, p = 0.014), and RNFL-N (r: −0.272, p < 0.001) and between tinnitus and cochlear nerve diameter (r: −0.536, p < 0.001), and RNFL-T (r: −0.222, p < 0.009). Conclusion: The study results clearly showed a relationship between cochlear nerve fiber thickness and hearing loss and the severity of tinnitus in cases with unilateral tinnitus and that there could be neurodegenerative factors in the disease etiology. A similar relationship seen with the RNFL supports the study hypothesis.

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Effect of sinusoidally amplitude modulated broadband noise stimuli on stream segregation in individuals with sensorineural hearing loss

Auditory and Vestibular Research ◽

10.18502/avr.v29i4.4640 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jawahar Antony P ◽

Animesh Barman

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽

Amplitude Modulation ◽

Modulation Frequency ◽

Study Groups ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Broadband Noise ◽

Sensorineural Hearing ◽

Stream Segregation ◽

Temporal Cues

Background and Aim: Auditory stream segregation is a phenomenon that splits sounds into different streams. The temporal cues that contribute for stream segregation have been previously studied in normal hearing people. In people with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), the cues for temporal envelope coding is not usually affected, while the temporal fine structure cues are affected. These two temporal cues depend on the amplitude modulation frequency. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of sinusoidal amplitude modulated (SAM) broadband noises on stream segregation in individuals with SNHL. Methods: Thirty normal hearing subjects and 30 subjects with mild to moderate bilateral SNHL participated in the study. Two experiments were performed; in the first experiment, the AB sequence of broadband SAM stimuli was presented, while in the second experiment, only B sequence was presented. A low (16 Hz) and a high (256 kHz) standard modulation frequency were used in these experiments. The subjects were asked to find the irregularities in the rhythmic sequence. Results: Both the study groups could identify the irregularities similarly in both the experiments. The minimum cumulative delay was slightly higher in the SNHL group. Conclusion: It is suggested that the temporal cues provided by the broadband SAM noises for low and high standard modulation frequencies were not used for stream segregation by either normal hearing subjects or those with SNHL. Keywords: Stream segregation; sinusoidal amplitude modulation; sensorineural hearing loss

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Spectral modulation detection training in older adults with hearing loss.

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America ◽

10.1121/1.4784056 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 125 (4) ◽

pp. 2633-2633

Author(s):

Andrew T. Sabin ◽

Cynthia A. Clark ◽

David A. Eddins ◽

Sumitrajit Dhar ◽

Beverly A. Wright

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Hearing Loss ◽

Spectral Modulation ◽

Modulation Detection

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White-matter integrity and hearing acuity decline in healthy subjects: Magnetic resonance tractography

The Neuroradiology Journal ◽

10.1177/1971400920913868 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 236-243

Author(s):

Fahad H Alhazmi

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

White Matter ◽

Pure Tone ◽

Structural Connectivity ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Healthy Population ◽

Hearing Acuity ◽

The Right ◽

Moderate Hearing Loss

Aim The association between hearing acuity and white-matter (WM) microstructure integrity was evaluated in a normal healthy population with a variety of hearing acuity using an automated tractography technique known as TRACULA (TRActs Constrained by UnderLying Anatomy) in order to investigate whether hearing acuity decline is correlated with brain structural connectivity. Methods Forty healthy controls were recruited to this study, which used a Siemens 3T Trio with a standard eight-channel head coil. Hearing acuity was assessed using pure-tone air conduction audiometry (Amplivox 2160, with Audiocups to eliminate noise and allow accurate pure-tone audiometry). Handedness and anxiety and depression were assessed for all participants in this study using the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, respectively. Results This study showed a significant reduction in WM volume of the left cingulum angular bundle (CAB; t = 2.32, p = 0.02) in the mild to moderate hearing-loss group (238 ± 223 mm2) compared to the group with normal hearing (105 ± 121 mm2). The WM integrity of the left CAB was found to be significantly different ( t = 2.06, p = 0.04) in the mild to moderate hearing-loss group (0.18 ± 0.06 mm2/s) compared to the group with normal hearing (0.22 ± 0.05 mm2/s). The WM integrity of the left anterior thalamic radiation (ATR) was found to be significantly different ( t = 2.58, p = 0.014) in the mild to moderate hearing-loss group (0.33 ± 0.05 mm2/s) compared to the group with normal hearing (0.37 ± 0.03 mm2/s). A significant negative correlation was found between age and the WM integrity of the right ATR ( r = −0.33, p = 0.038), and between hearing acuity and the WM integrity of the right ATR ( r = −0.38, p = 0.013) and left CAB ( r = −0.36, p = 0.019). Discussion and conclusion: An important finding in this study is that brain structural connectivity changes in the left hemisphere seem to be associated with age-related hearing loss found mainly in the ATR and CAB tracts.

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Perception of Spectral Contrast by Hearing-Impaired Listeners

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/1092-4388(2005/063) ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 910-921 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Laura E. Dreisbach ◽

Marjorie R. Leek ◽

Jennifer J. Lentz

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Internal Representation ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Stimulus Level ◽

Hearing Impaired ◽

Frequency Resolution ◽

Spectral Peak ◽

Control Group ◽

Complex Sounds ◽

Spectral Contrast

The ability to discriminate the spectral shapes of complex sounds is critical to accurate speech perception. Part of the difficulty experienced by listeners with hearing loss in understanding speech sounds in noise may be related to a smearing of the internal representation of the spectral peaks and valleys because of the loss of sensitivity and an accompanying reduction in frequency resolution. This study examined the discrimination by hearing-impaired listeners of highly similar harmonic complexes with a single spectral peak located in 1 of 3 frequency regions. The minimum level difference between peak and background harmonics required to discriminate a small change in the spectral center of the peak was measured for peaks located near 2, 3, or 4 kHz. Component phases were selected according to an algorithm thought to produce either highly modulated (positive Schroeder) or very flat (negative Schroeder) internal waveform envelopes in the cochlea. The mean amplitude difference between a spectral peak and the background components required for discrimination of pairs of harmonic complexes (spectral contrast threshold) was from 4 to 19 dB greater for listeners with hearing impairment than for a control group of listeners with normal hearing. In normal-hearing listeners, improvements in threshold were seen with increasing stimulus level, and there was a strong effect of stimulus phase, as the positive Schroeder stimuli always produced lower thresholds than the negative Schroeder stimuli. The listeners with hearing loss showed no consistent spectral contrast effects due to stimulus phase and also showed little improvement with increasing stimulus level, once their sensitivity loss was overcome. The lack of phase and level effects may be a result of the more linear processing occurring in impaired ears, producing poorer-than-normal frequency resolution, a loss of gain for low amplitudes, and an altered cochlear phase characteristic in regions of damage.

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