Estimating the basilar‐membrane input/output‐function in normal‐hearing and hearing‐impaired listeners using forward masking

2008 ◽  
Vol 123 (5) ◽  
pp. 3859-3859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morten L. Jepsen ◽  
Torsten Dau
PLoS ONE ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. e0174776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Fereczkowski ◽  
Morten L. Jepsen ◽  
Torsten Dau ◽  
Ewen N. MacDonald

1989 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 298-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Nelson ◽  
Rosemary Pavlov

Previous research has shown that frequency-specific estimates of auditory time constants for recovery from short-term adaptation can be made using a fixed-probe forward-masking procedure (Nelson & Freyman, 1987) if the masker and the probe stimuli are at the same frequency. This study examines the validity of time-constant estimates for off-frequency forward-masking conditions in which the masker frequency is below (900 Hz) or above (1100 Hz) the probe frequency (1000 Hz). Fixed-probe-level temporal masking functions were obtained from four normal-hearing and four hearing-impaired listeners. Auditory time constants were estimated with iterative least-squares procedures to derive parameter values for an exponential model of recovery from forward masking. After appropriate corrections were made for attenuation to the maskers provided by the auditory filter centered at the probe frequency, recovery from forward masking produced by either off-frequency or on-frequency maskers could be described by a single time constant. That time constant was around 50 ms in normal-hearing listeners and was larger in those hearing-impaired listeners who demonstrated moderate hearing loss at the probe frequency.


2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (08) ◽  
pp. 746-759 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaum P. Bhagat

Background: Basilar membrane input/output (I/O) functions in mammalian animal models are characterized by linear and compressed segments when measured near the location corresponding to the characteristic frequency. A method of studying basilar membrane compression indirectly in humans involves measuring distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) I/O functions. Previous research has linked compression estimates from behavioral growth-of-masking functions to hearing thresholds. Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare compression estimates from DPOAE I/O functions and hearing thresholds at 1 and 2 kHz. Research Design: A prospective correlational research design was performed. The relationship between DPOAE I/O function compression estimates and hearing thresholds was evaluated with Pearson product-moment correlations. Study Sample: Normal-hearing adults (n = 16) aged 22–42 yr were recruited. Data Collection and Analysis: DPOAE I/O functions (L 2 = 45–70 dB SPL) and two-interval forced-choice hearing thresholds were measured in normal-hearing adults. A three-segment linear regression model applied to DPOAE I/O functions supplied estimates of compression thresholds, defined as breakpoints between linear and compressed segments and the slopes of the compressed segments. Pearson product-moment correlations between DPOAE compression estimates and hearing thresholds were evaluated. Results: A high correlation between DPOAE compression thresholds and hearing thresholds was observed at 2 kHz, but not at 1 kHz. Compression slopes also correlated highly with hearing thresholds only at 2 kHz. Conclusions: The derivation of cochlear compression estimates from DPOAE I/O functions provides a means to characterize basilar membrane mechanics in humans and elucidates the role of compression in tone detection in the 1–2 kHz frequency range.


2001 ◽  
Vol 110 (6) ◽  
pp. 3119-3131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Dorn ◽  
Dawn Konrad-Martin ◽  
Stephen T. Neely ◽  
Douglas H. Keefe ◽  
Emily Cyr ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 1299-1311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Beechey ◽  
Jörg M. Buchholz ◽  
Gitte Keidser

Objectives This study investigates the hypothesis that hearing aid amplification reduces effort within conversation for both hearing aid wearers and their communication partners. Levels of effort, in the form of speech production modifications, required to maintain successful spoken communication in a range of acoustic environments are compared to earlier reported results measured in unaided conversation conditions. Design Fifteen young adult normal-hearing participants and 15 older adult hearing-impaired participants were tested in pairs. Each pair consisted of one young normal-hearing participant and one older hearing-impaired participant. Hearing-impaired participants received directional hearing aid amplification, according to their audiogram, via a master hearing aid with gain provided according to the NAL-NL2 fitting formula. Pairs of participants were required to take part in naturalistic conversations through the use of a referential communication task. Each pair took part in five conversations, each of 5-min duration. During each conversation, participants were exposed to one of five different realistic acoustic environments presented through highly open headphones. The ordering of acoustic environments across experimental blocks was pseudorandomized. Resulting recordings of conversational speech were analyzed to determine the magnitude of speech modifications, in terms of vocal level and spectrum, produced by normal-hearing talkers as a function of both acoustic environment and the degree of high-frequency average hearing impairment of their conversation partner. Results The magnitude of spectral modifications of speech produced by normal-hearing talkers during conversations with aided hearing-impaired interlocutors was smaller than the speech modifications observed during conversations between the same pairs of participants in the absence of hearing aid amplification. Conclusions The provision of hearing aid amplification reduces the effort required to maintain communication in adverse conditions. This reduction in effort provides benefit to hearing-impaired individuals and also to the conversation partners of hearing-impaired individuals. By considering the impact of amplification on both sides of dyadic conversations, this approach contributes to an increased understanding of the likely impact of hearing impairment on everyday communication.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document