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Original Articles

The interference of different background noises on speech processing in elderly hearing impaired subjects

, &
Pages S83-S90 | Received 25 Jun 2008, Published online: 07 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

The objective of the investigation is to study the interference of different background noises on speech processing. For this purpose speech recognition with the Hagerman test and a test battery with speech comprehension tasks (SVIPS) were performed in speech-weighted background noises varying in temporal structure, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and meaningfulness. With different test criteria and a score of perceived effort, the aim was to get a more complete picture of speech comprehension under adverse listening situations. Twenty-four subjects, aged 56–83 years, with a bilateral sensorineural hearing impairment, participated in the study. Differences in performance between the different background noises varied depending on the speech processing task, SNR, and on quantitative versus qualitative outcome measures. Age effects were seen in the Hagerman test and especially in background conditions of modulated noises (speech and reversed speech). Findings are discussed in relation to a hypothesis suggesting that masking and distraction interference from background noises on speech processing at peripheral, central auditory, and cognitive levels depends on the SNR used and the noise type and the listening task.

Abbreviations
HN=

Hagerman noise

SNR=

Signal-to-noise ratio

SRT=

Speech reception threshold

SVIPS=

Speech and visual information processing system

Abbreviations
HN=

Hagerman noise

SNR=

Signal-to-noise ratio

SRT=

Speech reception threshold

SVIPS=

Speech and visual information processing system

Sumario

El objetivo de esta investigación es estudiar la interferencia de diferentes ruidos de fondo en el procesamiento del lenguaje. Para este propósito, se realizaron pruebas de reconocimiento del lenguaje con el Test de Hagerman y una batería de pruebas con tareas de comprensión del lenguaje (SVIPS), en medio de ruidos de fondo con ponderación para el lenguaje, con variaciones en la estructura temporal, la tasa señal-ruido (SNR) y su nivel de significado. Con diferentes criterios de evaluación y un puntaje de esfuerzo percibido, el propósito era lograr una imagen más completa de la comprensión del lenguaje bajo situaciones adversas de escucha. Veinticuatro sujetos, con edad entre 56-83 años, con un trastorno auditivos sensorineural bilateral, participaron del estudio. Las diferencias en el desempeño entre los diferentes ruidos de fondo variaron dependiendo de la tarea de lenguaje procesada, de la SNR, y de mediciones de resultados, cuantitativos vs. cualitativos. Se vieron efectos de la edad en la prueba de Hagerman y especialmente en condiciones de ruido de fondo con ruidos modulados (lenguaje y lenguaje revertido). Se discuten los hallazgos en relación con la hipótesis que sugiere que el enmascaramiento y la interferencia por distracción por ruidos de fondo sobre el procesamiento de lenguaje, a nivel auditivo y cognitivo, central y periférico, depende de la SNR utilizada, del tipo de ruido y de tarea auditiva.

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