Valderrama Joaquin T, Mejia Jorge, Wong Angela, Herbert Nicholas C, Edwards Brent
Department of Signal Theory, Telematics and Communications, University of Granada, 18014, Granada, Spain.
Research Centre for Information and Communications Technologies, University of Granada, 18014, Granada, Spain.
Sci Rep. 2025 May 23;15(1):17998. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-95045-3.
This study evaluates the effectiveness of adaptive binaural beamforming in a realistic cafeteria noise environment. The motivation stems from the common challenge faced by hearing aid users in such environments, where communication often demands significant mental effort. The study employed a combination of behavioural, neurophysiological, and self-reported measures to assess speech intelligibility and listening effort. Results showed that the adaptive binaural beamformer improved speech-in-noise intelligibility at signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) yielding 80% and 95% intelligibility. Additionally, when this technology was enabled, listening effort was reduced across various metrics: faster reaction times on a dual task, decreased pre-stimulus alpha power (8-12 Hz), indicating less inhibition was needed, and increased alpha power during the encoding and retention phases, consistent with greater working memory load due to improved intelligibility. Self-reports indicated lower perceived effort in the more challenging SNR condition. The use of realistic background noise enhances the ecological validity of the findings, contributing to a better understanding of how this hearing aid technology performs in real-world listening environments. Overall, the study demonstrates that adaptive binaural beamforming can ease the cognitive burden on users in noisy, everyday environments, thereby enhancing their overall auditory experience.
本研究评估了自适应双耳波束形成在现实的自助餐厅噪声环境中的有效性。其动机源于助听器用户在这种环境中面临的常见挑战，即在这种环境中交流往往需要付出巨大的脑力。该研究采用了行为、神经生理学和自我报告等多种测量方法来评估言语可懂度和聆听努力程度。结果表明，自适应双耳波束形成器在信噪比（SNR）分别为80%和95%可懂度时提高了噪声环境下的言语可懂度。此外，启用该技术后，各项指标的聆听努力程度均有所降低：在双重任务中的反应时间更快，刺激前的阿尔法功率（8 - 12赫兹）降低，表明所需的抑制减少，在编码和记忆阶段阿尔法功率增加，这与因可懂度提高导致工作记忆负荷增加一致。自我报告显示，在更具挑战性的信噪比条件下，感知到的努力程度更低。使用现实的背景噪声增强了研究结果的生态效度，有助于更好地理解这种助听器技术在现实聆听环境中的表现。总体而言，该研究表明，自适应双耳波束形成可以减轻嘈杂日常环境中用户的认知负担，从而提升他们的整体听觉体验。
