Objective Measures of Listening Effort: Effects of Background Noise and Noise Reduction

Autor/inn/en	Sarampalis, Anastasios; Kalluri, Sridhar; Edwards, Brent; Hafter, Ervin
Titel	Objective Measures of Listening Effort: Effects of Background Noise and Noise Reduction
Quelle	In: Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 52 (2009) 5, S.1230-1240 (11 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1092-4388
DOI	10.1044/1092-4388(2009/08-0111)
Schlagwörter	Assistive Technology; Acoustics; Speech; Listening; Cognitive Processes; Sentences; Short Term Memory; Reaction Time; Measures (Individuals) + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Akustik; Speaking; Sprechen; Hörvorgang; Zuhören; Cognitive process; Kognitiver Prozess; Sentence analysis; Satzanalyse; Kurzzeitgedächtnis; Reaktionsvermögen; Messdaten
Abstract	Purpose: This work is aimed at addressing a seeming contradiction related to the use of noise-reduction (NR) algorithms in hearing aids. The problem is that although some listeners claim a subjective improvement from NR, it has not been shown to improve speech intelligibility, often even making it worse. Method: To address this, the hypothesis tested here is that the positive effects of NR might be to reduce cognitive effort directed toward speech reception, making it available for other tasks. Normal-hearing individuals participated in 2 dual-task experiments, in which 1 task was to report sentences or words in noise set to various signal-to-noise ratios. Secondary tasks involved either holding words in short-term memory or responding in a complex visual reaction-time task. Results: At low values of signal-to-noise ratio, although NR had no positive effect on speech reception thresholds, it led to better performance on the word-memory task and quicker responses in visual reaction times. Conclusions: Results from both dual tasks support the hypothesis that NR reduces listening effort and frees up cognitive resources for other tasks. Future hearing aid research should incorporate objective measurements of cognitive benefits. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). 10801 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852. Tel: 800-638-8255; Fax: 301-571-0457; e-mail: subscribe@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.asha.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10