Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of the envelope difference index (EDI) and log-likelihood ratio (LLR) to quantify the independent and interactive effects of wide dynamic range compression, digital noise reduction and directionality, and to carry out self-rated quality measures. A recorded sentence embedded in speech spectrum noise at +5 dB signal to noise ratio was presented to a four channel digital hearing aid and the output was recorded with different combinations of algorithms at 30, 45 and 70 dB HL levels of presentation through a 2 cc coupler. EDI and LLR were obtained in comparison with the original signal using MATLAB software. In addition, thirty participants with normal hearing sensitivity rated the output on the loudness and clarity parameters of quality. The results revealed that the temporal changes happening at the output is independent of the number of algorithms activated together in a hearing aid. However, at a higher level of presentation, temporal cues are better preserved if all of these algorithms are deactivated. The spectral components speech tend to get affected by the presentation level. The results also indicate the importance of quality rating as this helps in considering whether the spectral and/or temporal deviations created in the hearing aid are desirable or not.
Highlights
Individuals with sensorineural hearing loss have difficulties in frequency discrimination and temporal resolution in addition to audibility issues.[1]
In order to prevail over these issues, Many recent hearing aids are incorporated with advanced signal processing strategies such as wide dynamic range compression (WDRC), digital noise reduction (DNR) algorithms and directionality
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of envelope difference index (EDI) and likelihood ratio (LLR) to quantify the independent and interactive effects of compression, DNR and directionality on the temporal and spectral aspects of sentence in noise, and to assess the perceived quality
Summary
Individuals with sensorineural hearing loss have difficulties in frequency discrimination and temporal resolution in addition to audibility issues.[1] In order to prevail over these issues, Many recent hearing aids are incorporated with advanced signal processing strategies such as wide dynamic range compression (WDRC), digital noise reduction (DNR) algorithms and directionality. Studies have shown that these algorithms alter the temporal and spectral characteristics of the speech signal.[2,3,4] It is imperative to quantify these changes for effective optimization of hearing aid characteristics. There are different acoustic and perceptual measures that could quantify the changes in speech signal induced by these algorithms. There have been many reports in the literature on the independent effect of these algorithms on speech perception.[3,4,5,6,7,8,9]
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