Potential of self-conducted speech audiometry with smart speakers

Authors

  • Jasper Ooster Medizinische Physik, Carl von Ossietzky Universität, Oldenburg, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all, Germany http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1498-3776
  • Kirsten C. Wagener Hörzentrum GmbH, Oldenburg, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2858-2789
  • Melanie Krueger H¨örTech gGmbH, Oldenburg, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all, Germany
  • Jörg-Hendrik Bach Hörzentrum GmbH, Oldenburg, Germany; HörTech gGmbH, Oldenburg, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5205-2193
  • Bernd T Meyer Medizinische Physik, Carl von Ossietzky Universität, Oldenburg, Germany; HörTech gGmbH, Oldenburg, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9190-2111

Keywords:

speech audiometry, smart home, ASR, matrix sentence test, OLSA, smart speaker, unsupervised measurement

Abstract

Speech audiometry in noise based on matrix sentence tests is an important diagnostic tool to assess the speech reception threshold (SRT) of a subject, i.e., the signal-to-noise ratio corresponding to 50% intelligibility. Although the matrix test format allows for self-conducted measurements by applying a visual, closed response format, these tests are mostly performed in open response format with an experimenter entering the correct/incorrect responses (expert-conducted). Using automatic speech recognition (ASR) enables self- conducted measurements without the need of visual presentation of the response alternatives. A combination of these self-conducted measurement procedures with signal presentation via smart speakers could be used to assess individual speech intelligibility in an individual listening environ- ment. Therefore, this paper compares self-conducted SRT measurements using smart speakers with expert-conducted lab measurements. With smart speakers, the experimenter has no control over the absolute presentation level, mode of presentation (headphones vs. loudspeaker), potential errors from the automated response logging, and room acoustics. We present the differences between measurements in the lab and with a smart speaker for normal- hearing, mildly hearing-impaired and moderate hearing-impaired subjects in low, medium, and high reverberation.

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Auditory Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems

Additional Files

Published

2020-04-24

How to Cite

Ooster, J., Wagener, K. C., Krueger, M., Bach, J.-H., & Meyer, B. T. (2020). Potential of self-conducted speech audiometry with smart speakers. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research, 7, 373–380. Retrieved from https://proceedings.isaar.eu/index.php/isaarproc/article/view/2019-43

Issue

Vol. 7 (2019): Auditory Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems

Section

2019/5. Other topics in auditory and audiological research

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