Abstract
The identification and discrimination of timbre are essential features of music perception. One dominating parameter within the multidimensional timbre space is the spectral shape of complex sounds. As hearing loss interferes with the perception and enjoyment of music, we approach the individual timbre discrimination skills in individuals with severe to profound hearing loss using a cochlear implant (CI) and normal hearing individuals using a bone-anchored hearing aid (Baha). With a recent developed behavioral test relying on synthetically sounds forming a spectral continuum, the timbre difference was changed adaptively to measure the individual just noticeable difference (JND) in a forced-choice paradigm. To explore the differences in timbre perception abilities caused by the hearing mode, the sound stimuli were varied in their fundamental frequency, thus generating different spectra which are not completely covered by a CI or Baha system. The resulting JNDs demonstrate differences in timbre perception between normal hearing individuals, Baha users, and CI users. Beside the physiological reasons, also technical limitations appear as the main contributing factors.
Highlights
The perception of music is an important feature of everyday life improving life quality and is a prerequisite to discriminate speech prosody and speakers
We investigate the individual spectral shape just noticeable difference (JND) for complex tones in cochlear implant users compared to normal hearing listeners using a bone-anchored hearing aid (Baha) or not
To explore the differences in timbre perception abilities caused by the hearing mode, the sound stimuli were varied in their fundamental frequency, generating different spectra which are not completely covered by a cochlear implant (CI) or Baha system
Summary
The perception of music is an important feature of everyday life improving life quality and is a prerequisite to discriminate speech prosody and speakers. To enable or restore speech and music perception is the main goal of hearing aids and implantable neuroprosthesis. One prevalent factor for music perception is the ability to perceive and discriminate timbre. Timbre appears as a psychoacoustical attribute of complex tones comprising all acoustical attributes that are not exclusively assigned to the perception of pitch, loudness, and subjective duration [3, 4]. Timbre is a multidimensional space, which dimensions differently contribute to the psychoacoustical perception of timbre. The intensity fluctuation appears as one parameter characterizing the timbre difference of instruments [7]
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