Speech Recognition in Noise for Adults With Normal Hearing

Background: Several recent investigations support the use of frequency modulation (FM) systems in children with normal hearing and auditory processing or listening disorders such as those diagnosed with auditory processing disorders, autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Friedreich ataxia, and dyslexia. The American Academy of Audiology (AAA) published suggested procedures, but these guidelines do not cite research evidence to support the validity of the recommended procedures for fitting and verifying nonoccluding open-ear FM systems on children with normal hearing. Documenting the validity of these fitting procedures is critical to maximize the potential FM-system benefit in the abovementioned populations of children with normal hearing and those with auditory-listening problems. Purpose: The primary goal of this investigation was to determine the validity of the AAA real-ear approach to fitting FM systems on children with normal hearing. The secondary goal of this study was to examine speech-recognition performance in noise and loudness ratings without and with FM systems in children with normal hearing sensitivity. Research Design: A two-group, cross-sectional design was used in the present study. Study Sample: Twenty-six typically functioning children, ages 5–12 yr, with normal hearing sensitivity participated in the study. Intervention: Participants used a nonoccluding open-ear FM receiver during laboratory-based testing. Data Collection and Analysis: Participants completed three laboratory tests: (1) real-ear measures, (2) speech recognition performance in noise, and (3) loudness ratings. Four real-ear measures were conducted to (1) verify that measured output met prescribed-gain targets across the 1000–4000 Hz frequency range for speech stimuli, (2) confirm that the FM-receiver volume did not exceed predicted uncomfortable loudness levels, and (3 and 4) measure changes to the real-ear unaided response when placing the FM receiver in the child’s ear. After completion of the fitting, speech recognition in noise at a –5 signal-to-noise ratio and loudness ratings at a +5 signal-to-noise ratio were measured in four conditions: (1) no FM system, (2) FM receiver on the right ear, (3) FM receiver on the left ear, and (4) bilateral FM system. Results: The results of this study suggested that the slightly modified AAA real-ear measurement procedures resulted in a valid fitting of one FM system on children with normal hearing. On average, prescriptive targets were met for 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz within 3 dB, and maximum output of the FM system never exceeded and was significantly lower than predicted uncomfortable loudness levels for the children. There was a minimal change in the real-ear unaided response when the open-ear FM receiver was placed into the ear. Use of the FM system on one or both ears resulted in significantly better speech recognition in noise relative to a no-FM condition, and the unilateral and bilateral FM receivers resulted in a comfortably loud signal when listening in background noise. Conclusions: Real-ear measures are critical for obtaining an appropriate fit of an FM system on children with normal hearing.

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Effects of High-Frequency Suppression for Speech Recognition in Noise in Spanish Normal-Hearing Subjects

Otology & Neurotology ◽

10.1097/mao.0000000000000658 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 36 (4) ◽

pp. 720-726 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ángel Ramos de Miguel ◽

María Teresa Pérez Zaballos ◽

Ángel Ramos Macías ◽

Silvia Andrea Borkoski Barreiro ◽

Juan Carlos Falcón González ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Speech Recognition ◽

High Frequency ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Speech Recognition In Noise

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List Equivalency of the AzBio Sentence Test in Noise for Listeners with Normal-Hearing Sensitivity or Cochlear Implants

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.3766/jaaa.23.7.2 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 23 (07) ◽

pp. 501-509 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Erin C. Schafer ◽

Jody Pogue ◽

Tyler Milrany

Keyword(s):

Speech Recognition ◽

Cochlear Implants ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Normative Data ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Published Data ◽

Repeated Measures Design ◽

Published Evidence ◽

Starting Point ◽

Speech Recognition In Noise

Background: Speech recognition abilities of adults and children using cochlear implants (CIs) are significantly degraded in the presence of background noise, making this an important area of study and assessment by CI manufacturers, researchers, and audiologists. However, at this time there are a limited number of fixed-intensity sentence recognition tests available that also have multiple, equally intelligible lists in noise. One measure of speech recognition, the AzBio Sentence Test, provides 10-talker babble on the commercially available compact disc; however, there is no published evidence to support equivalency of the 15-sentence lists in noise for listeners with normal hearing (NH) or CIs. Furthermore, there is limited or no published data on the reliability, validity, and normative data for this test in noise for listeners with CIs or NH. Purpose: The primary goals of this study were to examine the equivalency of the AzBio Sentence Test lists at two signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) in participants with NH and at one SNR for participants with CIs. Analyses were also conducted to establish the reliability, validity, and preliminary normative data for the AzBio Sentence Test for listeners with NH and CIs. Research Design: A cross-sectional, repeated measures design was used to assess speech recognition in noise for participants with NH or CIs. Study Sample: The sample included 14 adults with NH and 12 adults or adolescents with Cochlear Freedom CI sound processors. Participants were recruited from the University of North Texas clinic population or from local CI centers. Data Collection and Analysis: Speech recognition was assessed using the 15 lists of the AzBio Sentence Test and the 10-talker babble. With the intensity of the sentences fixed at 73 dB SPL, listeners with NH were tested at 0 and −3 dB SNRs, and participants with CIs were tested at a +10 dB SNR. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data. Results: The primary analyses revealed significant differences in performance across the 15 lists on the AzBio Sentence Test for listeners with NH and CIs. However, a follow-up analysis revealed no significant differences in performance across 10 of the 15 lists. Using the 10, equally-intelligible lists, a comparison of speech recognition performance across the two groups suggested similar performance between NH participants at a −3 dB SNR and the CI users at a +10 SNR. Several additional analyses were conducted to support the reliability and validity of the 10 equally intelligible AzBio sentence lists in noise, and preliminary normative data were provided. Conclusions: Ten lists of the commercial version of the AzBio Sentence Test may be used as a reliable and valid measure of speech recognition in noise in listeners with NH or CIs. The equivalent lists may be used for a variety of purposes including audiological evaluations, determination of CI candidacy, hearing aid and CI programming considerations, research, and recommendations for hearing assistive technology. In addition, the preliminary normative data provided in this study establishes a starting point for the creation of comprehensive normative data for the AzBio Sentence Test.

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Speech Recognition in Multitalker Babble Using Digits, Words, and Sentences

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.3766/jaaa.16.9.9 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 16 (09) ◽

pp. 726-739 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Rachel A. McArdle ◽

Richard H. Wilson ◽

Christopher A. Burks

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Speech Recognition ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Recognition Performance ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Linguistic Complexity ◽

Item Questionnaire ◽

The Mean ◽

Speech Recognition In Noise ◽

Better Than

The purpose of this mixed model design was to examine recognition performance differences when measuring speech recognition in multitalker babble on listeners with normal hearing (n = 36) and listeners with hearing loss (n = 72) utilizing stimulus of varying linguistic complexity (digits, words, and sentence materials). All listeners were administered two trials of two lists of each material in a descending speech-to-babble ratio. For each of the materials, recognition performances by the listeners with normal hearing were significantly better than the performances by the listeners with hearing loss. The mean separation between groups at the 50% point in signal-to-babble ratio on each of the three materials was ~8 dB. The 50% points for digits were obtained at a significantly lower signal-to-babble ratio than for sentences or words that were equivalent. There were no interlist differences between the two lists for the digits and words, but there was a significant disparity between QuickSIN™ lists for the listeners with hearing loss. A two-item questionnaire was used to obtain a subjective measurement of speech recognition, which showed moderate correlations with objective measures of speech recognition in noise using digits (r = .641), sentences (r = .572), and words (r = .673).

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İşitme cihazı kullanan çocuklarda gürültüde konuşmayı anlama becerisinin değerlendirilmesi: Preliminer sonuçlar

Turkish Journal of Audiology and Hearing Research ◽

10.34034/tjahr.10001 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 45-50

Author(s):

Ecem KARTAL ÖZCAN ◽

Merve ÖZBAL BATUK ◽

Şule KAYA ◽

Gonca SENNAROĞLU

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Speech Recognition ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

Classroom Environment ◽

Hearing Aid ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Negative Effects ◽

The Mean ◽

Children With Hearing Loss ◽

Speech Recognition In Noise

Assessment of speech perception in noise in children with hearing aids: Preliminary results* Objective: Noisy environments are a part of the daily life of children, just like adults. Children with hearing loss who wear hearing aids are more susceptible to the negative effects of noise than their normal-hearing peers. This study aims to evaluate the speech recognition in noise performance of hearing aid users and compare them with their normal-hearing peers. Material and Method: Five children aged 6-12 years with bilateral moderate to severe symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss and using bilateral behind-the-ear hearing aids were included in the study. 4 different conditions of the Turkish HINT-C were applied, and a speech recognition threshold (SRT) is determined for each condition. Results: Regardless of their age, the SRT needed by children with hearing aids to achieve equal performance with their normal-hearing peers was found to be higher for all test conditions. As seen in children with normal hearing in general, the mean noise front score of the children with hearing loss was higher than the mean noise right and noise left scores. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that children with bilaterally symmetrical moderate to severe hearing loss achieved poor speech recognition scores in environments similar to the classroom environment, compared to their normal-hearing peers. Our results guided appropriate rehabilitation and follow-up. Keywords: noise, speech recognition in noise, hearing loss, hearing aid, pediatric audiology, HINT, HINT-C

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A Comparison of Two Word-Recognition Tasks in Multitalker Babble: Speech Recognition in Noise Test (SPRINT) and Words-in-Noise Test (WIN)

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.3766/jaaa.19.7.4 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 19 (07) ◽

pp. 548-556 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Richard H. Wilson ◽

Wendy B. Cates

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Speech Recognition ◽

Data Collection ◽

Word Recognition ◽

Concurrent Validity ◽

Pure Tone ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Pure Tone Average ◽

Noise Test ◽

Speech Recognition In Noise

Background: The Speech Recognition in Noise Test (SPRINT) is a word-recognition instrument that presents the 200 Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 (NU-6) words binaurally at 50 dB HL in a multitalker babble at a 9 dB signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) (Cord et al, 1992). The SPRINT was developed by and used by the Army as a more valid predictor of communication abilities (than pure-tone thresholds or word-recognition in quiet) for issues involving fitness for duty from a hearing perspective of Army personnel. The Words-in-Noise test (WIN) is a slightly different word-recognition task in a fixed level multitalker babble with 10 NU-6 words presented at each of 7 S/N from 24 to 0 dB S/N in 4 dB decrements (Wilson, 2003; Wilson and McArdle, 2007). For the two instruments, both the babble and the speakers of the words are different. The SPRINT uses all 200 NU-6 words, whereas the WIN uses a maximum of 70 words. Purpose: The purpose was to compare recognition performances by 24 young listeners with normal hearing and 48 older listeners with sensorineural hearing on the SPRINT and WIN protocols. Research Design: A quasi-experimental, mixed model design was used. Study Sample: The 24 young listeners with normal hearing (19 to 29 years, mean = 23.3 years) were from the local university and had normal hearing (≤20 dB HL; American National Standards Institute, 2004) at the 250–8000 Hz octave intervals. The 48 older listeners with sensorineural hearing loss (60 to 82 years, mean = 69.9 years) had the following inclusion criteria: (1) a threshold at 500 Hz between 15 and 30 dB HL, (2) a threshold at 1000 Hz between 20 and 40 dB HL, (3) a three-frequency pure-tone average (500, 1000, and 2000 Hz) of ≤40 dB HL, (4) word-recognition scores in quiet ≥40%, and (5) no history of middle ear or retrocochlear pathology as determined by an audiologic evaluation. Data Collection and Analysis: The speech materials were presented bilaterally in the following order: (1) the SPRINT at 50 dB HL, (2) two half lists of NU-6 words in quiet at 60 dB HL and 80 dB HL, and (3) the two 35-word lists of the WIN materials with the multitalker babble fixed at 60 dB HL. Data collection occurred during a 40–60 minute session. Recognition performances on each stimulus word were analyzed. Results: The listeners with normal hearing obtained 92.5% correct on the SPRINT with a 50% point on the WIN of 2.7 dB S/N. The listeners with hearing loss obtained 65.3% correct on the SPRINT and a WIN 50% point at 12.0 dB S/N. The SPRINT and WIN were significantly correlated (r = −0.81, p < .01), indicating that the SPRINT had good concurrent validity. The high-frequency, pure-tone average (1000, 2000, 4000 Hz) had higher correlations with the SPRINT, WIN, and NU-6 in quiet than did the traditional three-frequency pure-tone average (500, 1000, 2000 Hz). Conclusions: Graphically and numerically the SPRINT and WIN were highly related, which is indicative of good concurrent validity of the SPRINT.

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The Effect of Dynamic Pitch on Speech Recognition in Temporally Modulated Noise

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2017_jslhr-h-16-0389 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 60 (9) ◽

pp. 2725-2739 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jing Shen ◽

Pamela E. Souza

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Speech Recognition ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Individual Factors ◽

Temporal Modulation ◽

Hearing Sensitivity ◽

Speech Reception ◽

Speech Reception Thresholds ◽

The Individual ◽

Speech Recognition In Noise

PurposeThis study investigated the effect of dynamic pitch in target speech on older and younger listeners' speech recognition in temporally modulated noise. First, we examined whether the benefit from dynamic-pitch cues depends on the temporal modulation of noise. Second, we tested whether older listeners can benefit from dynamic-pitch cues for speech recognition in noise. Last, we explored the individual factors that predict the amount of dynamic-pitch benefit for speech recognition in noise.MethodYounger listeners with normal hearing and older listeners with varying levels of hearing sensitivity participated in the study, in which speech reception thresholds were measured with sentences in nonspeech noise.ResultsThe younger listeners benefited more from dynamic pitch for speech recognition in temporally modulated noise than unmodulated noise. Older listeners were able to benefit from the dynamic-pitch cues but received less benefit from noise modulation than the younger listeners. For those older listeners with hearing loss, the amount of hearing loss strongly predicted the dynamic-pitch benefit for speech recognition in noise.ConclusionsDynamic-pitch cues aid speech recognition in noise, particularly when noise has temporal modulation. Hearing loss negatively affects the dynamic-pitch benefit to older listeners with significant hearing loss.

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

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/jshr.3905.947 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 39 (5) ◽

pp. 947-956 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

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.

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Speech Recognition Abilities of Adults Using Cochlear Implants with FM Systems

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.3766/jaaa.15.10.3 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 15 (10) ◽

pp. 678-691 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Erin C. Schafer ◽

Linda M. Thibodeau

Keyword(s):

Speech Recognition ◽

Cochlear Implants ◽

Sound Field ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Classroom Setting ◽

Percent Correct ◽

Word Repetition ◽

Hearing In Noise ◽

Noise Test ◽

Speech Recognition In Noise

Speech recognition was evaluated for ten adults with normal hearing and eight adults with Nucleus cochlear implants (CIs) at several different signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and with three frequency modulated (FM) system arrangements: desktop, body worn, and miniature direct connect. Participants were asked to repeat Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) sentences presented with speech noise in a classroom setting and percent correct word repetition was determined. Performance was evaluated for both normal-hearing and CI participants with the desktop soundfield system. In addition, speech recognition for the CI participants was evaluated using two FM systems electrically coupled to their speech processors. When comparing the desktop sound field and the No-FM condition, only the listeners with normal hearing made significant improvements in speech recognition in noise. When comparing the performance across the three FM conditions for the CI listeners, the two electrically coupled FM systems resulted in significantly greater improvements in speech recognition in noise relative to the desktop soundfield system.

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