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Abstract
This study evaluated prototype multichannel nonlinear frequency compression (NFC) signal processing on listeners with high-frequency hearing loss. This signal processor applies NFC above a cut-off frequency. The participants were hearing-impaired adults (13) and children (11) with sloping, high-frequency hearing loss. Multiple outcome measures were repeated using a modified withdrawal design. These included speech sound detection, speech recognition, and self-reported preference measures. Group level results provide evidence of significant improvement of consonant and plural recognition when NFC was enabled. Vowel recognition did not change significantly. Analysis of individual results allowed for exploration of individual factors contributing to benefit received from NFC processing. Findings suggest that NFC processing can improve high frequency speech detection and speech recognition ability for adult and child listeners. Variability in individual outcomes related to factors such as degree and configuration of hearing loss, age of participant, and type of outcome measure.
| Abbreviations | ||
| ANOVA | = | Analysis of variance |
| BTE | = | Behind-the-ear |
| CP | = | Conventional processing |
| DR | = | Dead regions |
| DSL v5.0 | = | Desired sensation level multistage input/output algorithm |
| HFPTA | = | High-frequency pure-tone average |
| HI | = | Hearing impaired |
| MPO | = | Maximum power output |
| NFC | = | Nonlinear frequency compression |
| RAU | = | Rationalized arcsine units |
| RECDs | = | Real ear to coupler differences |
| SNR | = | Signal-to-noise ratio |
| TEN | = | Threshold equalizing noise |
| UWO-DFD | = | University of Western Ontario distinctive features differences test |
| Abbreviations | ||
| ANOVA | = | Analysis of variance |
| BTE | = | Behind-the-ear |
| CP | = | Conventional processing |
| DR | = | Dead regions |
| DSL v5.0 | = | Desired sensation level multistage input/output algorithm |
| HFPTA | = | High-frequency pure-tone average |
| HI | = | Hearing impaired |
| MPO | = | Maximum power output |
| NFC | = | Nonlinear frequency compression |
| RAU | = | Rationalized arcsine units |
| RECDs | = | Real ear to coupler differences |
| SNR | = | Signal-to-noise ratio |
| TEN | = | Threshold equalizing noise |
| UWO-DFD | = | University of Western Ontario distinctive features differences test |
Sumario
El estudio evaluó el procesamiento de la señal de un prototipo multicanal de compresión no lineal de la frecuencia (NFC) en sujetos con pérdida auditiva en las frecuencias agudas. Este procesador de señal aplica la NFC por encima de la frecuencia de corte. Los participantes fueron adultos hipoacúsicos (13) y niños (11) con pérdidas auditivas con pendiente hacia las frecuencias agudas. Se repitieron múltiples mediciones de resultados utilizando un modelo modificado de retirada. Éstas incluyeron detección de sonidos del lenguaje, reconocimiento del lenguaje y medidas auto-reportadas de preferencia. Los resultados de grupo aportaron evidencia de una mejoría significativa en el reconocimiento de consonante y plurales cuando se activó la NFC. El reconocimiento de vocales no cambió significativamente. El análisis de resultados individuales permitió la exploración de factores individuales que contribuyeron al beneficio recibido del procesamiento con NFC. Los hallazgos sugieren que el procesamiento con NFC puede mejorar la detección del lenguaje de alta frecuencia y la capacidad de reconocimiento del lenguaje para adultos y niños. La variabilidad en los resultados individuales se relacionó con factores tales como el grado y la configuración de la pérdida auditiva, la edad del participante y el tipo de medición de resultados.