Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
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Assessment of Audio-Tactile Sensory Substitution Training in Participants with Profound Deafness Using the Event-Related Potential Technique
Published on: September 7, 2022
Auditory streaming and listening effort: an event related potential study
Corinna Bernarding1, Farah I Corona-Strauss, Matthias Latzel
1Computational Diagnostics and Biocybernetics Unit, Saarland University Hospital and Saarland University of Applied Sciences, Homburg/Saar, Germany. bernarding@cdb-unit.de
Summary
Wavelet phase synchronization stability (WPSS) offers a new objective measure for estimating listening effort. This electrophysiological method shows promise for improving hearing aid fitting by assessing auditory processing difficulty.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Signal Processing
- Hearing Aid Technology
Background:
- Objective estimation of listening effort is crucial for effective hearing aid fitting.
- Current methods often require significant patient cooperation, limiting their clinical utility.
- Wavelet phase synchronization stability (WPSS) of auditory late responses has emerged as a potential objective measure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To extend previous findings on WPSS as a measure of listening effort.
- To investigate the efficacy of WPSS using syllable stimulation paradigms with varying difficulty.
- To assess WPSS in more complex auditory environments with competing noise streams.
Main Methods:
- Utilized syllable stimulation paradigms with two difficulty levels.
- Introduced a second competing auditory stream of multitalker babble noise at different signal-to-noise ratios.
- Recorded auditory late responses and analyzed wavelet phase synchronization stability (WPSS) in 21 normal-hearing subjects detecting target syllables.
Main Results:
- WPSS demonstrated robustness in distinguishing between easy and difficult listening conditions.
- The study successfully extended the application of WPSS to more complex auditory scenarios.
- Results indicate WPSS can objectively quantify differences in listening effort.
Conclusions:
- WPSS is a reliable electrophysiological measure for assessing listening effort.
- The method shows potential for improving hearing aid fitting procedures.
- Further research is needed to validate WPSS in hearing-impaired individuals for clinical application.
