Adaptive spatial filtering improves speech reception in noise while preserving binaural cues

• Published in: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America Vol. 142; no. 3; p. 1441
• Main Authors: Bissmeyer, Susan R S, Goldsworthy, Raymond L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2017
• Subjects: Algorithms; Cochlear Implants; Female; Healthy Volunteers; Hearing; Hearing Loss - rehabilitation; Humans; Male; Noise; Signal-To-Noise Ratio; Sound Localization; Speech Acoustics; Speech Perception; Speech Reception Threshold Test
• ISSN: 1520-8524
• DOI: 10.1121/1.5002691

Hearing loss greatly reduces an individual's ability to comprehend speech in the presence of background noise. Over the past decades, numerous signal-processing algorithms have been developed to improve speech reception in these situations for cochlear implant and hearing aid users. One challenge is to reduce background noise while not introducing interaural distortion that would degrade binaural hearing. The present study evaluates a noise reduction algorithm, referred to as binaural Fennec, that was designed to improve speech reception in background noise while preserving binaural cues. Speech reception thresholds were measured for normal-hearing listeners in a simulated environment with target speech generated in front of the listener and background noise originating 90° to the right of the listener. Lateralization thresholds were also measured in the presence of background noise. These measures were conducted in anechoic and reverberant environments. Results indicate that the algorithm improved speech reception thresholds, even in highly reverberant environments. Results indicate that the algorithm also improved lateralization thresholds for the anechoic environment while not affecting lateralization thresholds for the reverberant environments. These results provide clear evidence that this algorithm can improve speech reception in background noise while preserving binaural cues used to lateralize sound.