Related Experiment Videos
New directions for assessing speech perception in persons with sensory aids
K I Kirk1, D B Pisoni, M S Sommers
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA.
The Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology. Supplement
|September 1, 1995
Summary
Speech perception for cochlear implant and hearing aid users is impacted by background noise and word complexity. Easier words and fewer background voices improve understanding, especially in open-set tests.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Hearing Science
Background:
- Speech perception is crucial for communication, particularly for individuals with hearing loss using assistive devices.
- Understanding factors affecting speech perception aids in optimizing device use and rehabilitation strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how stimulus variability (single- vs. multiple-talker) and lexical difficulty (easy vs. hard words) affect speech perception.
- To compare these effects in adults using multichannel cochlear implants (CIs) versus conventional hearing aids (HAs).
Main Methods:
- Participants identified words in single-talker and multiple-talker conditions.
- Lexical difficulty was manipulated by selecting high-frequency, low-neighborhood words ('easy') versus low-frequency, high-neighborhood words ('hard').
- Word recognition was tested using closed-set and open-set response formats.
Main Results:
- Poorer word identification scores were observed in multiple-talker conditions compared to single-talker conditions.
- Lexically 'easy' words were recognized better than lexically 'hard' words.
- The impact of stimulus variability on performance was not significant in the closed-set format.
Conclusions:
- Both background noise and word lexicality significantly influence speech perception in CI and HA users.
- These findings highlight the challenges posed by complex listening environments and word predictability.
- The choice of response format can mediate the observed effects of stimulus variability.