Abstract
Acoustic cues for sound localization and speech perception in reverberant environments are more complex than those in anechoic conditions. The ability to utilize these cues deteriorates as a function of age. This study examined the speech perception ability of elderly listeners in well-defined, enclosed spaces and identified signal-processing strategies that might enhance this ability. For this, we performed tests in three environments: a car, a plywood cube, and a conference room. Pre-recorded monosyllabic words (Modified Rhyme Test) were played in quiet or in the presence of an 8-talker babble from a loudspeaker and recorded using two microphones placed at KEMARs ears. These signals were played to 10 young and 10 elderly listeners with normal hearing. We evaluated speech perception abilities of the listeners as a function of the following variables: (1) the location and distance of the loudspeaker from the listener, and (2) the number of reflecting surfaces. We tested the hypothesis that diotic presentations of the signal (better ear signal to both ears, or active steering followed by a presentation of the summed signal) improved speech perception abilities in these situations.
Published Version
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