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Haptic sound-localisation for use in cochlear implant and hearing-aid users
Mark D Fletcher1,2, Jana Zgheib3
1University of Southampton Auditory Implant Service, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK. M.D.Fletcher@soton.ac.uk.
Scientific Reports
|August 27, 2020
Summary
Haptic stimulation on the wrists can significantly improve sound localization for individuals with hearing loss. This wrist-worn device enhances spatial hearing, even outperforming some hearing-assistive technologies after training.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Auditory Perception
Background:
- Hearing-assistive devices users struggle with sound localization and segregation in noisy environments.
- Previous research demonstrated improved sound localization in unilaterally implanted cochlear implant (CI) users via haptic wrist stimulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance haptic sound localization accuracy using novel signal processing and a diverse stimulus set.
- To evaluate the impact of prolonged training on haptic sound localization performance.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-two adults with normal touch perception were divided into experimental (5-h training) and control groups.
- A new signal-processing approach was employed to convert auditory input to haptic feedback on wrist-worn devices.
- Participants completed sound localization tasks with varying stimuli, with and without training.
Main Results:
- Untrained haptic sound localization was superior to previous studies and performed better than CI users.
- Post-training, accuracy improved significantly, surpassing the performance of bilateral hearing-aid users.
- The novel signal-processing approach enhanced localization accuracy and stimulus generalizability.
Conclusions:
- Wrist-worn haptic devices, utilizing advanced signal processing, show potential for improving spatial hearing in diverse hearing-impaired populations.
- Haptic feedback offers a promising alternative or supplement to traditional hearing aids and cochlear implants for spatial auditory tasks.
- Training enhances the effectiveness of haptic devices, suggesting a pathway for user adaptation and improved auditory rehabilitation.
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