Contributions of the temporal envelope in adverse listening conditions

Abstract

Amplitude modulations of the temporal envelope provide important cues for intelligibility, particularly in quiet listening environments. However, the speech understanding of listeners based on this temporal speech signal is often impaired when temporal interruptions or maskers interfere with the transmission of this important information. Performance in these adverse listening conditions is variable, based, in part, upon the properties of the interfering masker and the degree to which the modulation properties of the target speech signal are preserved. In some cases, listeners may be required to shift perceptual weighting to alternate, preserved modulation cues in order to maximize intelligibility of the speech signal. However, modulation properties of the speech signal are related to specific speech events. Therefore, different modulation properties are likely to contribute diverse information for speech understanding. The ability to access and process temporal modulation properties of the speech signal that unfold over different timescales is essential for maximizing speech intelligibility in everyday listening conditions. [Work supported by NIH/NIDCD and ASHA.]