MRC Institute of Hearing Research (Scottish Section), Glasgow, UK.
Int J Audiol. 2011 Dec;50(12):905-11. doi: 10.3109/14992027.2011.606285. Epub 2011 Sep 20.
This study measured the effects of two previously untested practical considerations-venting and transmission delays-on speech intelligibility in a simulated unilateral wireless system, where a target signal in background noise was transmitted wirelessly to the hearing-impaired (HI) listener.
Speech reception thresholds (SRTs) relative to the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were measured by varying the surrounding babble noise level. The target signal was presented at 0° azimuth in the soundfield and unilaterally via an insert earphone, using open and closed fittings with simulated-wireless delays ranging between 0-160 ms. SRTs were also measured unaided and with participants' current hearing aid(s).
Thirty-three mild-to-moderate sensorineural HI adults participated in the experiment.
For an open fitting, the results showed a 5-dB SNR benefit in SRT compared to unaided performance at shorter delays. For a closed fitting, the majority of participants could accurately recognize speech below - 20 dBSNR across delays.
These results highlight the efficacy of wireless systems with HI adults. Speech-intelligibility benefits are affected by transmission delays only when the delay is greater than 40 ms and the coupling is vented.
本研究测量了两个以前未经测试的实际因素——通风和传输延迟对模拟单侧无线系统中言语可懂度的影响，在该系统中，目标信号在背景噪声中被无线传输到听力受损（HI）听众。
通过改变周围环境噪声水平，测量相对于信噪比（SNR）的言语接收阈值（SRT）。目标信号在声场中以 0°方位角呈现，并通过插入式耳机单侧呈现，使用开式和闭式配件，模拟无线延迟在 0-160ms 之间。还在无辅助和参与者当前助听器的情况下测量了 SRT。
33 名轻度至中度感音神经性 HI 成人参加了实验。
对于开放式配件，与无辅助表现相比，在较短的延迟下，SRT 中的 SNR 受益为 5dB。对于封闭式配件，大多数参与者可以在延迟下准确识别低于-20dB SNR 的语音。
这些结果突出了无线系统对 HI 成人的有效性。只有当延迟大于 40ms 且耦合通风时，传输延迟才会影响言语可懂度。
