Speech intelligibility in noise with single‐microphone noise reduction implemented in 9‐, 16‐, and 24‐channel compressors

Abstract

Reception Threshold for Sentences as measured by a modified version of the HINT test [M. J. Nilsson et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 95(2), 1085–1099 (1984)] were collected on hearing‐impaired listeners fit binaurally with digital hearing aids incorporating a 9‐channel, 16‐channel, and 24‐channel spectral subtraction‐like technique of single‐microphone noise reduction. Thresholds were measured in noise presented in a two‐dimensionally diffuse soundfield with the subjects listening unaided, aided without noise reduction, and aided with noise reduction. The ability of noise reduction to reduce the level of steady state noise was quantified using 2 cm3 coupler measures with flat linear fittings (to measure the maximum attenuation possible) as well as using each of the listeners’ prescribed fittings (to better relate to the changes in performance measured in the sound field). Previously measured benefit from noise reduction [(M. J. Nilsson et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. (2000)] is hypothesized to occur from frequency...