Tonal Language Speakers Are Better Able to Segregate Competing Speech According to Talker Sex Differences

Purpose The aim of this study was to compare release from masking (RM) between Mandarin-speaking and English-speaking listeners with normal hearing for competing speech when target–masker sex cues, spatial cues, or both were available. Method Speech recognition thresholds (SRTs) for competing speech were measured in 21 Mandarin-speaking and 15 English-speaking adults with normal hearing using a modified coordinate response measure task. SRTs were measured for target sentences produced by a male talker in the presence of two masker talkers (different male talkers or female talkers). The target sentence was always presented directly in front of the listener, and the maskers were either colocated with the target or were spatially separated from the target (+90°, −90°). Stimuli were presented via headphones and were virtually spatialized using head-related transfer functions. Three masker conditions were used to measure RM relative to the baseline condition: (a) talker sex cues, (b) spatial cues, or (c) combined talker sex and spatial cues. Results The results showed large amounts of RM according to talker sex and/or spatial cues. There was no significant difference in SRTs between Chinese and English listeners for the baseline condition, where no talker sex or spatial cues were available. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in RM between Chinese and English listeners when spatial cues were available. However, RM was significantly larger for Chinese listeners when talker sex cues or combined talker sex and spatial cues were available. Conclusion Listeners who speak a tonal language such as Mandarin Chinese may be able to take greater advantage of talker sex cues than listeners who do not speak a tonal language.

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Tinnitus impairs segregation of competing speech in normal-hearing listeners

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-76942-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yang Wenyi Liu ◽

Bing Wang ◽

Bing Chen ◽

John J. Galvin ◽

Qian-Jie Fu

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Speech Recognition ◽

Auditory Processing ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Central Auditory Processing ◽

Informational Masking ◽

Spatial Cues ◽

Processing Resources ◽

Lexical Interference ◽

Competing Speech

AbstractMany tinnitus patients report difficulties understanding speech in noise or competing talkers, despite having “normal” hearing in terms of audiometric thresholds. The interference caused by tinnitus is more likely central in origin. Release from informational masking (more central in origin) produced by competing speech may further illuminate central interference due to tinnitus. In the present study, masked speech understanding was measured in normal hearing listeners with or without tinnitus. Speech recognition thresholds were measured for target speech in the presence of multi-talker babble or competing speech. For competing speech, speech recognition thresholds were measured for different cue conditions (i.e., with and without target-masker sex differences and/or with and without spatial cues). The present data suggest that tinnitus negatively affected masked speech recognition even in individuals with no measurable hearing loss. Tinnitus severity appeared to especially limit listeners’ ability to segregate competing speech using talker sex differences. The data suggest that increased informational masking via lexical interference may tax tinnitus patients’ central auditory processing resources.

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Personal Audio System: Hearing Symptoms, Habits, and Sound Pressure Levels Measured in Real Ear and a Manikin

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2020_jslhr-19-00053 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (6) ◽

pp. 2016-2026

Author(s):

Tamara R. Almeida ◽

Clayton H. Rocha ◽

Camila M. Rabelo ◽

Raquel F. Gomes ◽

Ivone F. Neves-Lobo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sound Pressure ◽

Daily Basis ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Real ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Sound Pressure Levels ◽

Audio System

Purpose The aims of this study were to characterize hearing symptoms, habits, and sound pressure levels (SPLs) of personal audio system (PAS) used by young adults; estimate the risk of developing hearing loss and assess whether instructions given to users led to behavioral changes; and propose recommendations for PAS users. Method A cross-sectional study was performed in 50 subjects with normal hearing. Procedures included questionnaire and measurement of PAS SPLs (real ear and manikin) through the users' own headphones and devices while they listened to four songs. After 1 year, 30 subjects answered questions about their usage habits. For the statistical analysis, one-way analysis of variance, Tukey's post hoc test, Lin and Spearman coefficients, the chi-square test, and logistic regression were used. Results Most subjects listened to music every day, usually in noisy environments. Sixty percent of the subjects reported hearing symptoms after using a PAS. Substantial variability in the equivalent music listening level (Leq) was noted ( M = 84.7 dBA; min = 65.1 dBA, max = 97.5 dBA). A significant difference was found only in the 4-kHz band when comparing the real-ear and manikin techniques. Based on the Leq, 38% of the individuals exceeded the maximum daily time allowance. Comparison of the subjects according to the maximum allowed daily exposure time revealed a higher number of hearing complaints from people with greater exposure. After 1 year, 43% of the subjects reduced their usage time, and 70% reduced the volume. A volume not exceeding 80% was recommended, and at this volume, the maximum usage time should be 160 min. Conclusions The habit of listening to music at high intensities on a daily basis seems to cause hearing symptoms, even in individuals with normal hearing. The real-ear and manikin techniques produced similar results. Providing instructions on this topic combined with measuring PAS SPLs may be an appropriate strategy for raising the awareness of people who are at risk. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.12431435

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Vowel Recognition Threshold as a Function of Temporal Segmentations

Journal of Speech and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/jshr.1304.715 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 715-724 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Richard L. Powell ◽

Oscar Tosi

Keyword(s):

Normal Hearing ◽

Recognition Threshold ◽

Vowel Sound ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean ◽

Vowel Recognition ◽

Temporal Segment

Vowels were segmented into 15 different temporal segments taken from the middle of the vowel and ranging from 4 to 60 msecs, then presented to 6 subjects with normal hearing. The mean temporal-segment recognition threshold of 15 msecs with a range from 9.3 msecs for the /u/ to 27.2 milliseconds for the /a/. Misidenti-fication of vowels was most often confused with the vowel sound adjacent to it on the vowel-hump diagram. There was no significant difference between the cardinal and noncardinal vowels.

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Effect of Auditory Maturation on the Encoding of a Speech Syllable in the First Days of Life

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11070844 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 844

Author(s):

Laís Ferreira ◽

Piotr Henryk Skarzynski ◽

Magdalena Beata Skarzynska ◽

Milaine Dominici Sanfins ◽

Eliara Pinto Vieira Biaggio

Keyword(s):

Language Development ◽

Speech Sound ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Auditory Maturation ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Sound Changes ◽

The Mean ◽

Neonates And Infants

(1) Background: In neonates and infants, the physiological modifications associated with language development are reflected in their Frequency Following Responses (FFRs) in the first few months of life. (2) Objective: This study aimed to test the FFRs of infants in the first 45 days of life in order to evaluate how auditory maturation affects the encoding of a speech syllable. (3) Method: In total, 80 healthy, normal-hearing infants, aged 3 to 45 days old, participated in this study. The sample was divided into three groups: GI, 38 neonates from 3 to 15 days; GII, 25 infants from 16 to 30 days; and GIII, 17 infants from 31 to 45 days. All participants underwent FFR testing. Results: With age, there was a decrease in the latency of all FFR waves, with statistically significant differences among the groups studied for waves V, A, E, F, and O. The mean amplitudes showed an increase, with a statistically significant difference only for wave V. The slope measure increased over the 45 days, with a statistically significant difference between GIII and GI and between GIII and GII. (4) Conclusions: The encoding of a speech sound changes with auditory maturation over the first 45 days of an infant’s life.

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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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Perception and learning of relative pitch by musicians using the vibrotactile mode

Musicae Scientiae ◽

10.1177/10298649211015278 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 102986492110152

Author(s):

Carl Hopkins ◽

Saúl Maté-Cid ◽

Robert Fulford ◽

Gary Seiffert ◽

Jane Ginsborg

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Music Education ◽

Success Rate ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Pitch Discrimination ◽

Professional Musicians ◽

Profound Hearing Loss ◽

Relative Pitch ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Schools For The Deaf

This study investigated the perception and learning of relative pitch using vibrotactile stimuli by musicians with and without a hearing impairment. Notes from C3 to B4 were presented to the fingertip and forefoot. Pre- and post-training tests in which 420 pairs of notes were presented randomly were carried out without any feedback to participants. After the pre-training test, 16 short training sessions were carried out over six weeks with 72 pairs of notes per session and participants told whether their answers were correct. For amateur and professional musicians with normal hearing and professional musicians with a severe or profound hearing loss, larger pitch intervals were easier to identify correctly than smaller intervals. Musicians with normal hearing had a high success rate for relative pitch discrimination as shown by pre- and post-training tests, and when using the fingertips, there was no significant difference between amateur and professional musicians. After training, median scores on the tests in which stimuli were presented to the fingertip and forefoot were >70% for intervals of 3–12 semitones. Training sessions reduced the variability in the responses of amateur and professional musicians with normal hearing and improved their overall ability. There was no significant difference between the relative pitch discrimination abilities between one and 11 semitones, as shown by the pre-training test, of professional musicians with and without a severe/profound hearing loss. These findings indicate that there is potential for vibration to be used to facilitate group musical performance and music education in schools for the deaf.

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

Trends in Hearing ◽

10.1177/2331216519887615 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 23 ◽

pp. 233121651988761 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

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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Verification of In Situ Thresholds and Integrated Real-Ear Measurements

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.3766/jaaa.21.10.6 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 21 (10) ◽

pp. 663-670 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Jeffrey J. DiGiovanni ◽

Ryan M. Pratt

Keyword(s):

Measurement System ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

Hearing Aid ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Analysis Tool ◽

Ohio University ◽

Positive Direction ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Threshold Measurement

Background: Accurate prescriptive gain results in a more accurate fit, lower return rate in hearing aids, and increased patient satisfaction. In situ threshold measurements can be used to determine required gain. The Widex Corporation uses an in situ threshold measurement strategy, called the Sensogram. Real-ear measurements determine if prescriptive gain targets have been achieved. Starkey Laboratories introduced an integrated real-ear measurement system in their hearing aids. Purpose: To determine whether the responses obtained using the Widex Sensogram were equivalent to those obtained using current clinical threshold measurement methods. To determine the accuracy of the Starkey IREMS™ (Integrated Real Ear Measurement System) in measuring RECD (real-ear to coupler difference) values compared to a dedicated real-ear measurement system. Research Design: A verification design was employed by comparing participant data measured from standard, benchmark equipment and procedures against new techniques offered by hearing-aid manufacturers. Study Sample: A total of 20 participants participated in this study. Ten participants with sensorineural hearing loss were recruited from the Ohio University Hearing, Speech, and Language Clinic participated in the first experiment. Ten participants with normal hearing were recruited from the student population at Ohio University participated in both experiments. The normal-hearing group had thresholds of 15 dB HL or better at the octave frequencies of 250–8000 Hz. The hearing-impaired group had thresholds of varying degrees and configurations with thresholds equal to or poorer than 25 dB HL three-frequency pure-tone average. Data Collection and Analysis: The order of measurement method for both experiments was counterbalanced. In Experiment 1, thresholds obtained via the Widex Sensogram were compared to thresholds obtained for each participant using a clinical audiometer and ER-3A insert ear phones. In Experiment 2, RECD values obtained via the Starkey IREMS were compared to RECD values obtained via the Audioscan Verifit™. A repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for statistical analysis, and a Fisher's LSD (least significant difference) was used as a post hoc analysis tool. Results: A significant difference between Sensogram thresholds and conventional audiometric thresholds was found with the Sensogram method resulting in better threshold values at 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 kHz for both groups. In Experiment 2, a significant difference between RECD values obtained by the Starkey IREMS and the Audioscan Verifit system was found with significant differences in RECD values found at 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.5, 2.0, and 6.0 kHz. Conclusions: The Sensogram data differ significantly from traditional audiometry at several frequencies important for speech intelligibility. Real-ear measures are still required for verification of prescribed gain, however, calling into question any claims of shortened fitting time. The Starkey IREMS does perform real-ear measurements that vary significantly from benchmark equipment. These technologies represent a positive direction in prescribing accurate gain during hearing-aid fittings, but a stand-alone system is still the preferred method for real-ear measurements in hearing-aid fittings.

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Effect of Realistic Test Conditions on Spectral and Temporal Processing in Normal-Hearing Listeners

American Journal of Audiology ◽

10.1044/2020_aja-20-00120 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 160-169

Author(s):

Yang-Soo Yoon ◽

Callie Michelle Boren ◽

Brianna Diaz

Keyword(s):

Temporal Processing ◽

Detection Threshold ◽

Frequency Discrimination ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Discrimination Threshold ◽

Test Environment ◽

Test Conditions ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Test Order ◽

Pure Tones

Purpose To measure the effect of testing conditions (in the soundproof booth vs. quiet room), test order, and number of test sessions on spectral and temporal processing in normal-hearing (NH) listeners. Method Thirty-two adult NH listeners participated in the three experiments. For all three experiments, the stimuli were presented to the left ear at the subjects' most comfortable level through headphones. All tests were administered in an adaptive three-alternative forced-choice paradigm. Experiment 1 was designed to compare the effect of soundproof booth and quiet room test conditions on amplitude modulation detection threshold and modulation frequency discrimination threshold with each of the five modulation frequencies. Experiment 2 was designed to compare the effect of two test orders on the frequency discrimination thresholds under the quiet room test conditions. The thresholds were first measured in the ascending and descending order of four pure tones, and then with counterbalanced order. For Experiment 3, the amplitude discrimination threshold under the quiet room testing condition was assessed 3 times to determine the effect of the number of test sessions. Then the thresholds were compared over the sessions. Results Results showed no significant effect of test environment. The test order is an important variable for frequency discrimination, particularly between piano tunes and pure tones. Results also show no significant difference across test sessions. Conclusions These results suggest that a controlled test environment may not be required in spectral and temporal assessment for NH listeners. Under the quiet test environment, a single outcome measure is sufficient, but test orders should be counterbalanced.

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Proposal for implementing the Sentence Recognition Index in individuals with hearing disorders

CoDAS ◽

10.1590/2317-1782/20150000316 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 148-154 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Maristela Julio Costa ◽

Sinéia Neujahr dos Santos ◽

Alexandre Hundertmarck Lessa ◽

Carolina Lisboa Mezzomo

Keyword(s):

Normal Hearing ◽

Hearing Disorders ◽

Listening Condition ◽

Sentence Recognition ◽

Significant Difference ◽

New Strategy ◽

New Strategies

Purpose: To present and describe a new strategy and protocol for obtaining the Sentences Recognition Indexes (SRI), using the Lists of Phrases in Portuguese test (LPP), considering words in the analysis of responses; to analyze and compare the results using the previous and the new strategies by checking their applicability and suitability. Methods: To consider each word of the sentence, words were classified according to their importance: functional and content words, assigning them, respectively, two and one points. SRI were obtained in 33 normal hearing adults, and results were compared using the two strategies. Results: A new protocol was established. Each point corresponds to the following percentages in each list: 1B, 1.11%; 2B, 1.13%; 3B, 1.17%; 4B, 1.16%; 5B, 1.20%; and 6B, 1.11%. The median SRI obtained through usual and new strategies were, respectively, for the list 1B: 60 and 82.57%; 2B: 70 and 80.79%; 3B: 50 and 76.60%; 4B: 70 and 82.60%; 5B: 50 and 77.20%; and 6B: 60 and 82.14%. A significant difference was found when these strategies were compared. Conclusion: New strategy and protocol for evaluating the SRI were developed using the LPP test, considering each word of the sentence. When comparing the responses it was noticed that when considering each word in the sentence it is possible to scale, more detailed and less variability, the actual ability to recognize speech of each individual, the new strategy and protocol developed confirmed its applicability and suitability to assess Sentence Recognition Indexes in Quiet in individuals with hearing disorders in a specific listening condition.

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