Consonant perception in quiet: effect of increasing the consonant-vowel ratio with compression amplification

Single-channel syllabic compression amplification may increase the consonant-vowel ratio (CVR). This study was conducted to investigate the effect of CVR increases, associated with syllabic compression, on consonant perception in quiet for people with normal hearing and those with sensorineural hearing impairment. Fifteen hearing-impaired and 15 normal-hearing older people were assessed with different versions of the Nonsense Syllable Test, which had been recorded with linear and compression amplification (compression ratio = infinity). Overall scores did not differ significantly with type of amplification for both subject groups. Analysis of classes of sounds revealed the differential effect of type of amplification for the subject groups. This study highlights the need for audiologists to be aware that applying amplification that raises the level of consonants in relation to vowels is not always beneficial for people with hearing impairment, as the evidence indicates that CVR may be a cue to the perception of some consonants.