Abstract
This paper presents a model of binaural advantages in speech intelligibility applicable to anechoic conditions in which speech is masked by a single noise source, with speech and noise sources both located in the horizontal plane. First, frequency- and azimuth-dependent sound-pressure transformations (from Shaw's summary of amplitude measurements and Woodworth's equation for phase) are applied to obtain third-octave signal and noise spectra at each ear. Next (following Levitt and Rabiner), the effective S/N ratio in each band is increased by the masking-level difference, which is approximated with an equation (from Colburn's model of binaural interaction) that describes MLD dependence on relevant stimulus parameters. Monaural and binaural performance are then predicted using Articulation Theory (Kryter). Predictions are in reasonable agreement with data from seventeen studies of the effects of source azimuth and listening mode (monaural or binaural) on intelligibility. The model provides a quantitative framework for analyzing binaural advantages and for assessing the practical benefits of binaural hearing. [Work supported by NIH.]
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