Effects of dynamic-range compression on temporal acuity

Authors

  • Alan Wiinberg Hearing Systems Group, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
  • Morten Løve Jepsen Hearing Loss Compensation, Department of Electronics and Audiology, Widex A/S, Lynge, Denmark
  • Bastian Epp Hearing Systems Group, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
  • Torsten Dau Hearing Systems Group, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

Abstract

Some of the challenges that hearing-aid listeners experience with speech perception in complex acoustic environments may originate from limitations in the temporal processing of sounds. To systematically investigate the influence of hearing impairment and hearing-aid signal processing on temporal processing, temporal modulation transfer functions (TMTFs) and “supra-threshold” modulation-depth discrimination (MDD) thresholds were obtained in normal-hearing (NH) and hearing-impaired (HI) listeners with and without wide-dynamic range compression (WDRC). The TMTFs were obtained using tonal carriers of 1 and 5 kHz and modulation frequencies from 8 to 256 Hz. MDD thresholds were obtained using a reference modulation depth of −15 dB. A compression ratio of 2:1 was chosen. The attack and release time constants were 10 and 60 ms, respectively. For both carrier frequencies the TMTF thresholds decreased with the physical com-pression of the modulation depth due to the WDRC. Indications of reduced temporal resolution in the HI listeners were observed in the TMTF patterns for the 5-kHz carrier. Significantly higher MDD thresholds were found for the HI group relative to the NH group. No relationship was found between the MDD thresholds and the TMTF threshold. These findings indicate that the two measures may represent different aspects of temporal processing.

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Published

2015-12-15

How to Cite

Wiinberg, A., Jepsen, M. L., Epp, B., & Dau, T. (2015). Effects of dynamic-range compression on temporal acuity. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research, 5, 293–300. Retrieved from https://proceedings.isaar.eu/index.php/isaarproc/article/view/2015-34

Issue

Vol. 5 (2015): Individual Hearing Loss - Characterization, modelling, compensation strategies

Section

2015/4. Compensation strategies for hearing rehabilitation with hearing aids

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