A procedure for quantifying the effects of noise on speech recognition

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Hearing Science

Background:

• Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) significantly impacts speech recognition, especially in noisy environments.
• Understanding the effects of background noise (babble) is crucial for effective hearing aid fitting and rehabilitation.
• Quantifying speech recognition performance in noise is essential for assessing functional hearing abilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine speech recognition performance in listeners with SNHL under varying babble conditions.
• To measure the signal-to-babble ratio (SBR) needed for specific performance levels using adaptive strategies.
• To evaluate the utility of an adaptive strategy for quantifying the impact of noise competition on speech recognition.

Main Methods:

• Two experiments were conducted using adaptive procedures to measure speech recognition thresholds.
• Listeners with SNHL were tested in the presence of competing babble noise.
• Speech presentation levels mimicked normal conversation and amplified listening conditions.

Main Results:

• The study identified the required signal-to-babble ratios for listeners with SNHL to achieve preselected speech recognition levels.
• Performance varied across different speech presentation levels, indicating the influence of overall audibility.
• The adaptive strategy proved effective in measuring performance decrements due to noise.

Conclusions:

• The proposed adaptive strategy offers a practical method for quantifying the impact of noise on speech recognition in individuals with SNHL.
• This approach can aid in personalized hearing aid adjustments and auditory training programs.
• Quantifying the signal-to-babble ratio provides valuable insights into real-world listening challenges for individuals with hearing loss.