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Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
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Interaction Between Pitch and Timbre Perception in Normal-Hearing Listeners and Cochlear Implant Users
Xin Luo1, Samara Soslowsky2, Kathryn R Pulling2
1College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Coor Hall, 975 S. Myrtle Av., P. O. Box 870102, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA. xinluo@asu.edu.
Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology : JARO
|November 1, 2018
Summary
Cochlear implant (CI) users show similar pitch-timbre interactions as normal-hearing listeners, suggesting a shared perceptual mechanism. This interaction impacts melodic contour identification, especially with amplitude variations.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Psychoacoustics
- Speech and Hearing Science
Background:
- Pitch and timbre perception are distinct but interact in normal-hearing (NH) listeners.
- Cochlear implant (CI) users exhibit impaired pitch and timbre perception, with limited understanding of their interaction.
- This study investigates the pitch-timbre interaction, specifically between pitch (fundamental frequency - F0) and sharpness (spectral slope), in NH listeners and CI users.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the pitch-timbre interaction in NH listeners and CI users.
- To assess how variations in F0 and spectral slope affect pitch and sharpness perception sensitivity.
- To evaluate the impact of this interaction on melodic contour identification (MCI) in CI users under varying spectral slope and amplitude conditions.
Main Methods:
- Experiment 1: Measured F0 and spectral slope difference limens (DLs) in NH listeners and CI users. Assessed pitch and sharpness ranking sensitivity with congruent and incongruent F0/spectral slope variations.
- Experiment 2: Tested CI users' MCI with varying spectral slope conditions (none, congruent, incongruent) and amplitude roving (0-dB and 20-dB).
Main Results:
- Both NH listeners and CI users demonstrated higher pitch and sharpness ranking sensitivity with congruent F0 and spectral slope variations, indicating a symmetric interaction.
- CI users' MCI scores were significantly higher with congruent spectral slope variations compared to no or incongruent variations when no amplitude roving was present.
- 20-dB amplitude roving reduced overall MCI scores and diminished the effect of spectral slope variations in CI users.
Conclusions:
- The findings reveal a confusion between pitch and timbre (sharpness) in CI users, mirroring NH listeners, suggesting a fundamental perceptual link.
- Understanding this pitch-timbre interaction is crucial for developing strategies to improve auditory perception and enhance communication for CI users.
- Amplitude variations significantly disrupt pitch-timbre processing and MCI in CI users, highlighting the need for robust coding strategies.
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