scholarly journals Effects of age and hearing loss on perceptual and physiological measures of temporal envelope processing and spatial release from speech-on-speech masking

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chhayakanta Patro ◽  
Heather A. Kreft ◽  
Magdalena Wojtczak
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Amplitude Modulation ◽  
Gap Detection ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Detection Thresholds ◽  
Temporal Envelope ◽  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
Spatial Release ◽  
Envelope Processing ◽  
Release From Masking

AbstractOlder adults often experience difficulties understanding speech in adverse listening conditions. These difficulties are partially attributed to auditory temporal-processing deficits associated with aging even in the absence of hearing loss. The aim of this study was to assess effects of age and hearing loss on temporal envelope processing and speech-on-speech masking. Listeners with normal and near-normal hearing across a wide age range (20 to 66 years) were tested using a series of psychophysical (amplitude-modulation detection, gap detection, and interaural-envelope-phase discrimination), physiological (electroencephalographic envelope-following responses), speech perception (spatial release from masking), and cognitive (processing speed) measures. Results showed that: (i) psychophysical measures of monaural and binaural envelope processing and neural measures of envelope processing are not affected by aging after accounting for audiometric hearing loss, (ii) behavioral gap-detection thresholds decline with age, (iii) aging results in a reduction of spatial release from masking, even as speech intensity is amplified in the region of hearing loss, (iv) aging is associated with poorer measures of cognitive function. Although age significantly contributed to a decline in spatial release from speech-on-speech masking, individual differences in envelope processing and in scores from nonauditory cognitive tests used in this study were not significant predictors of speech performance.HighlightsAge per se does not affect psychophysical and physiological measures of monaural amplitude-modulation processing.Age does not affect the ability to detect interaural disparities in envelope timing between the ears.Gap detection thresholds degrades with age even after hearing thresholds are statistically accounted for.Age, independent of hearing thresholds, can substantially reduce spatial release from masking.Cognitive ability declines with age. However, such declines do not necessarily cause deficits in spatial release from masking.

scholarly journals Spatial Release from Masking Using Clinical Corpora: Sentence Recognition in a Colocated or Spatially Separated Speech Masker

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (04) ◽  
pp. 271-276
Author(s):  
Grant King ◽  
Nicole E. Corbin ◽  
Lori J. Leibold ◽  
Emily Buss
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Spatial Separation ◽  
Speech Corpus ◽  
Sentence Recognition ◽  
Spatial Release ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Release From Masking ◽  
Perceived Spatial Separation ◽  
Separation Conditions

Abstract Background Speech recognition in complex multisource environments is challenging, particularly for listeners with hearing loss. One source of difficulty is the reduced ability of listeners with hearing loss to benefit from spatial separation of the target and masker, an effect called spatial release from masking (SRM). Despite the prevalence of complex multisource environments in everyday life, SRM is not routinely evaluated in the audiology clinic. Purpose The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of assessing SRM in adults using widely available tests of speech-in-speech recognition that can be conducted using standard clinical equipment. Research Design Participants were 22 young adults with normal hearing. The task was masked sentence recognition, using each of five clinically available corpora with speech maskers. The target always sounded like it originated from directly in front of the listener, and the masker either sounded like it originated from the front (colocated with the target) or from the side (separated from the target). In the real spatial manipulation conditions, source location was manipulated by routing the target and masker to either a single speaker or to two speakers: one directly in front of the participant, and one mounted in an adjacent corner, 90° to the right. In the perceived spatial separation conditions, the target and masker were presented from both speakers with delays that made them sound as if they were either colocated or separated. Results With real spatial manipulations, the mean SRM ranged from 7.1 to 11.4 dB, depending on the speech corpus. With perceived spatial manipulations, the mean SRM ranged from 1.8 to 3.1 dB. Whereas real separation improves the signal-to-noise ratio in the ear contralateral to the masker, SRM in the perceived spatial separation conditions is based solely on interaural timing cues. Conclusions The finding of robust SRM with widely available speech corpora supports the feasibility of measuring this important aspect of hearing in the audiology clinic. The finding of a small but significant SRM in the perceived spatial separation conditions suggests that modified materials could be used to evaluate the use of interaural timing cues specifically.

scholarly journals Effects of Various Extents of High-Frequency Hearing Loss on Speech Recognition and Gap Detection at Low Frequencies in Patients with Sensorineural Hearing Loss

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Bei Li ◽  
Yang Guo ◽  
Guang Yang ◽  
Yanmei Feng ◽  
Shankai Yin
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Hearing Threshold ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing ◽  
Gap Detection ◽  
Detection Thresholds ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Compressed Speech

This study explored whether the time-compressed speech perception varied with the degree of hearing loss in high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (HF SNHL) individuals. 65 HF SNHL individuals with different cutoff frequencies were recruited and further divided into mildly, moderately, and/or severely affected subgroups in terms of the averaged thresholds of all frequencies exhibiting hearing loss. Time-compressed speech recognition scores under both quiet and noisy conditions and gap detection thresholds within low frequencies that had normal thresholds were obtained from all patients and compared with data from 11 age-matched individuals with normal hearing threshold at all frequencies. Correlations of the time-compressed speech recognition scores with the extents of HF SNHL and with the 1 kHz gap detection thresholds were studied across all participants. We found that the time-compressed speech recognition scores were significantly affected by and correlated with the extents of HF SNHL. The time-compressed speech recognition scores also correlated with the 1 kHz gap detection thresholds except when the compression ratio of speech was 0.8 under quiet condition. Above all, the extents of HF SNHL were significantly correlated with the 1 kHz gap thresholds.

Spatial release from masking in listeners with asymmetric hearing thresholds

2016 ◽  
Vol 139 (4) ◽  
pp. 1992-1993
Author(s):  
Richard L. Freyman ◽  
Derina S. Boothroyd ◽  
Decia A. DeMaio
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
Spatial Release ◽  
Release From Masking

scholarly journals Normative Data for a Rapid, Automated Test of Spatial Release From Masking

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 529-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasey M. Jakien ◽  
Frederick J. Gallun
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Normative Data ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Spatial Release ◽  
Auditory Scene ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Release From Masking

Purpose The purpose of this study is to report normative data and predict thresholds for a rapid test of spatial release from masking for speech perception. The test is easily administered and has good repeatability, with the potential to be used in clinics and laboratories. Normative functions were generated for adults varying in age and amounts of hearing loss. Method The test of spatial release presents a virtual auditory scene over headphones with 2 conditions: colocated (with target and maskers at 0°) and spatially separated (with target at 0° and maskers at ± 45°). Listener thresholds are determined as target-to-masker ratios, and spatial release from masking (SRM) is determined as the difference between the colocated condition and spatially separated condition. Multiple linear regression was used to fit the data from 82 adults 18–80 years of age with normal to moderate hearing loss (0–40 dB HL pure-tone average [PTA]). The regression equations were then used to generate normative functions that relate age (in years) and hearing thresholds (as PTA) to target-to-masker ratios and SRM. Results Normative functions were able to predict thresholds with an error of less than 3.5 dB in all conditions. In the colocated condition, the function included only age as a predictive parameter, whereas in the spatially separated condition, both age and PTA were included as parameters. For SRM, PTA was the only significant predictor. Different functions were generated for the 1st run, the 2nd run, and the average of the 2 runs. All 3 functions were largely similar in form, with the smallest error being associated with the function on the basis of the average of 2 runs. Conclusion With the normative functions generated from this data set, it would be possible for a researcher or clinician to interpret data from a small number of participants or even a single patient without having to first collect data from a control group, substantially reducing the time and resources needed. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.7080878

scholarly journals Human Auditory Brainstem Response to Temporal Gaps in Noise

2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 737-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynne A. Werner ◽  
Richard C. Folsom ◽  
Lisa R. Mancl ◽  
Connie L. Syapin
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Auditory Brainstem Response ◽  
Detection Threshold ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Broadband Noise ◽  
Gap Detection ◽  
Detection Thresholds ◽  
Brainstem Response ◽  
High Pass

Gap detection is a commonly used measure of temporal resolution, although the mechanisms underlying gap detection are not well understood. To the extent that gap detection depends on processes within, or peripheral to, the auditory brainstem, one would predict that a measure of gap threshold based on the auditory brainstem response (ABR) would be similar to the psychophysical gap detection threshold. Three experiments were performed to examine the relationship between ABR gap threshold and gap detection. Thresholds for gaps in a broadband noise were measured in young adults with normal hearing, using both psychophysical techniques and electrophysiological techniques that use the ABR. The mean gap thresholds obtained with the two methods were very similar, although ABR gap thresholds tended to be lower than psychophysical gap thresholds. There was a modest correlation between psychophysical and ABR gap thresholds across participants. ABR and psychophysical thresholds for noise masked by temporally continuous, high-pass, or spectrally notched noise were measured in adults with normal hearing. Restricting the frequency range with masking led to poorer gap thresholds on both measures. High-pass maskers affected the ABR and psychophysical gap thresholds similarly. Notched-noise-masked ABR and psychophysical gap thresholds were very similar except that low-frequency, notched-noise-masked ABR gap threshold was much poorer at low levels. The ABR gap threshold was more sensitive to changes in signal-to-masker ratio than was the psychophysical gap detection threshold. ABR and psychophysical thresholds for gaps in broadband noise were measured in listeners with sensorineural hearing loss and in infants. On average, both ABR gap thresholds and psychophysical gap detection thresholds of listeners with hearing loss were worse than those of listeners with normal hearing, although individual differences were observed. Psychophysical gap detection thresholds of 3- and 6-month-old infants were an order of magnitude worse than those of adults with normal hearing, as previously reported; however, ABR gap thresholds of 3-month-old infants were no different from those of adults with normal hearing. These results suggest that ABR gap thresholds and psychophysical gap detection depend on at least some of the same mechanisms within the auditory system.

Amplitude Modulation Detection by Listeners with Unilateral Dead Regions

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 597-606
Author(s):  
Brian C.J. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Amplitude Modulation ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Hearing Level ◽  
Detection Thresholds ◽  
High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽  
Frequency Components ◽  
Noise Test ◽  
The Dead ◽  
Sinusoidal Amplitude Modulation

Background: A dead region is a region in the cochlea where the inner hair cells and/or neurons are functioning very poorly, if at all. We have shown that, for people with sensorineural hearing loss, thresholds for detecting sinusoidal amplitude modulation (AM) of a sinusoidal carrier were lower for ears with high-frequency dead regions, as diagnosed using the threshold-equalizing noise test, calibrated in hearing level, than for ears without dead regions when the carrier frequency was below the edge frequency, fe, of the dead region. Purpose: To measure AM-detection thresholds for subjects with unilateral dead regions, using carrier frequencies both below and above fe. Research Design: Ten subjects with bilateral high-frequency hearing loss, but with unilateral high-frequency dead regions, were tested. The carriers were presented at sensation levels of 5, 10, or 15 dB. The values of fe were close to 1000, 1500, or 2000 Hz. Results: For carrier frequencies below fe, AM-detection thresholds were lower for the ears with dead regions than for the ears without dead regions, replicating earlier findings. In contrast, for carrier frequencies above fe, AM-detection thresholds tended to be higher for ears with dead regions than for ears without dead regions. Conclusions: The reason why AM detection was poorer in the ears with dead regions for carrier frequencies above fe is unclear. However, this finding is consistent with the generally poor discrimination of sounds that has been reported previously for sounds with frequency components falling within a dead region. The results have implications for the ability of people with dead regions to use information from frequency components falling inside the dead region.

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