Speech spectrum considerations and speech intelligibility predictions in hearing aid evaluations

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Speech Science
• Acoustics

Background:

• Understanding speech intelligibility is crucial for audiological assessments.
• The relationship between speech spectra and residual auditory range impacts communication.
• Existing methods for predicting speech intelligibility require refinement for clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss methods for predicting the intelligibility of amplified and unamplified speech.
• To derive a clinical data-applicable, articulation index-based procedure.
• To propose a simplified version of the derived procedure.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of amplified and unamplified speech spectra.
• Application of the residual auditory range concept.
• Derivation of an articulation index-based procedure (A1) based on Pavlovic (1987).
• Development of a simplified version (A0).

Main Results:

• A novel articulation index-based procedure (A1) has been developed for clinical data.
• A simplified version (A0) of the procedure is also proposed.
• The methods address the prediction of speech intelligibility across different auditory conditions.

Conclusions:

• The derived articulation index procedures offer a framework for assessing speech intelligibility.
• These methods are applicable to both amplified and unamplified speech within the residual auditory range.
• The proposed procedures aim to enhance clinical audiological evaluations.