Improving intelligibility of dysarthric speech in noise for listeners with hearing loss

Abstract

Noise reduction strategies based on time-frequency masking have been shown to provide substantial improvements in the intelligibility of speech in noise for both listeners with normal and impaired hearing. Previous studies on this type of noise reduction have involved intact, well-articulated speech spoken by healthy talkers (i.e., not disordered speech). However, the prevalence of speech disorders such as dysarthria is substantial, particularly in the aging population, which is highly susceptible to the impacts of hearing loss. We recently demonstrated the considerable impact of background noise on dysarthric speech as well as the effectiveness of time-frequency masking to improve the intelligibility of this disordered speech in noise for listeners with normal hearing (Borrie et al., 2023). Here, we present data on the feasibility of time-frequency masking to increase the intelligibility of dysarthric speech for listeners with sensorineural hearing impairment. Preliminary results indicate that the Ideal Quantized Mask, a method of time-frequency masking, significantly improves percent words correct scores of dysarthric speech in noise for listeners with hearing loss. Results will be discussed in relation to the specific impact of background noise on dysarthric speech, and the relationship between sensorineural hearing loss and dysarthric speech.