Best application of head-related transfer functions for competing voices speech recognition in hearing-impaired listeners

Authors

  • Lars Bramsløw Eriksholm Research Centre, Snekkersten, Denmark
  • Marianna Vatti Eriksholm Research Centre, Snekkersten, Denmark
  • Renskje K. Hietkamp Eriksholm Research Centre, Snekkersten, Denmark
  • Niels Henrik Pontoppidan Eriksholm Research Centre, Snekkersten, Denmark

Abstract

When presenting separated speech sources over hearing aids, should the normal physical spatial cues be restored? The answer was sought by presenting speech sources to a listener via headphones, either directly or after application of generic head-related-transfer functions (HRTF) in different modes to simulate free-field listening. For the presentation of two competing voices, we have measured the relative monaural and binaural contributions to speech intelligibility using a previously developed competing voices test. Two consecutive tests, using 13 and 10 hearing-impaired listeners with moderate, sloping hearing losses were conducted, combining different HRTF modes and horizontal plane angles. We found that neither the monaural HRTF gain nor the binaural cues imposed through crosstalk do affect the speech recognition. The only factor improving the competing voices scores is a large spatial separation, with as little mixing of the two voices as possible.

References

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Bramsløw, L., Vatti, M., Hietkamp, R.K., and Pontoppidan, N.H. (2014). “Design of a competing voices test;” Poster presented at International Hearing Aid Conference (IHCON) 2014, Lake Tahoe, CA, USA. Available at: http://www.eriksholm.com/about-us/news/IHCON_2014.

Bramsløw, L., Vatti, M., Hietkamp, R.K., and Pontoppidan, N.H. (2015). “Binaural speech recognition for normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners in a compe-ting voice test. Poster presented at Speech in Noise Workshop 2015, Copenhagen. Available at: http://www.eriksholm.com/about-us/news/2015/SPIN_2015.

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Published

2015-12-15

How to Cite

Bramsløw, L., Vatti, M., Hietkamp, R. K., & Pontoppidan, N. H. (2015). Best application of head-related transfer functions for competing voices speech recognition in hearing-impaired listeners. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research, 5, 357–363. Retrieved from https://proceedings.isaar.eu/index.php/isaarproc/article/view/2015-42

Issue

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

Section

2015/6. Speech intelligibility in noise: Evaluation and modelling

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