Yamashita Akinori, Nishimura Tadashi, Nagatani Yoshiki, Okayasu Tadao, Koizumi Toshizo, Sakaguchi Takefumi, Hosoi Hiroshi
Department of Otolaryngology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara Nara, Japan.
Acta Otolaryngol Suppl. 2009 Jun(562):34-9. doi: 10.1080/00016480902926449.
This study showed that it is possible to transmit language information using bone-conducted ultrasound (BCU) in normal-hearing subjects. Our results suggest the possibility of a difference in speech recognition between BCU and air-conducted audible sound (ACAS).
Ultrasound was audible when delivered by bone conduction. Some profoundly deaf subjects as well as normal-hearing subjects can discriminate BCU whose amplitude is modulated by different speech sounds. These findings suggest the usefulness of developing a bone-conducted ultrasonic hearing aid (BCUHA). However, the characteristics of BCU are still poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to compare BCU and ACAS in terms of their associated speech perception tendency and to investigate the different perceptual characteristics of BCU and ACAS.
Speech discrimination tests using both BCU and ACAS were performed with normal-hearing subjects. BCU and ACAS were compared for intelligibility and hearing confusion.
With BCU, the maximum percentage correct totaled about 75%. Our comparison of the hearing confusion with ACAS and BCU according to the individual syllabic nuclear group showed a clear difference in the incorrect rates. In addition, the stimulus nuclear groups were often perceived in other nuclear groups in BCU.
本研究表明，在听力正常的受试者中利用骨传导超声（BCU）传输语言信息是可行的。我们的结果提示，BCU与气导可听声（ACAS）之间在言语识别方面可能存在差异。
通过骨传导传递的超声是可听的。一些极重度聋受试者以及听力正常的受试者能够辨别由不同语音调制幅度的BCU。这些发现提示开发骨传导超声助听器（BCUHA）的可行性。然而，BCU的特性仍未得到充分了解。本研究的目的是比较BCU和ACAS在言语感知倾向方面的差异，并研究BCU和ACAS不同的感知特性。
对听力正常的受试者进行了使用BCU和ACAS的言语辨别测试。比较了BCU和ACAS的可懂度及听觉混淆情况。
使用BCU时，正确百分比的最大值总计约为75%。我们根据单个音节核心组对ACAS和BCU的听觉混淆进行比较，结果显示错误率存在明显差异。此外，在BCU中，刺激核心组常被感知为其他核心组。
