Investigating the effects of noise-estimation errors in simulated cochlear implant speech intelligibility

Authors

  • Abigail Anne Kressner Hearing Systems, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
  • Tobias May Hearing Systems, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
  • Rasmus Malik Thaarup Høegh Hearing Systems, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
  • Kristine Aavild Juhl Hearing Systems, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
  • Thomas Bentsen Hearing Systems, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
  • Torsten Dau Hearing Systems, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

Keywords:

Cochlear implant, Noise reduction, Sound coding, Speech intelligibility

Abstract

A recent study suggested that the most important factor for obtaining high speech intelligibility in noise with cochlear implant recipients is to preserve the low-frequency amplitude modulations of speech across time and frequency by, for example, minimizing the amount of noise in speech gaps. In contrast, other studies have argued that the transients provide the most information. Thus, the present study investigates the relative impact of these two factors in the framework of noise reduction by systematically correcting noise-estimation errors within speech segments, speech gaps, and the transitions between them. Speech intelligibility in noise was measured using a cochlear implant simulation tested on normal-hearing listeners. The results suggest that minimizing noise in the speech gaps can substantially improve intelligibility, especially in modulated noise. However, significantly larger improvements were obtained when both the noise in the gaps was minimized and the speech transients were preserved. These results imply that the correct identification of the boundaries between speech segments and speech gaps is the most important factor in maintaining high intelligibility in cochlear implants. Knowing the boundaries will make it possible for algorithms to both minimize the noise in the gaps and enhance the lowfrequency amplitude modulations.

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Adaptive processes in hearing

Additional Files

Published

2018-01-02

How to Cite

Kressner, A. A., May, T., Høegh, R. M. T., Juhl, K. A., Bentsen, T., & Dau, T. (2018). Investigating the effects of noise-estimation errors in simulated cochlear implant speech intelligibility. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research, 6, 295–302. Retrieved from https://proceedings.isaar.eu/index.php/isaarproc/article/view/2017-36

Issue

Vol. 6 (2017): Adaptive Processes in Hearing

Section

2017/5. Speech perception: Behavioral measures and modelling

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