Extended High Frequencies Provide Both Spectral and Temporal Information to Improve Speech-in-Speech Recognition

Trine, Allison; Monson, Brian B.

doi:10.1177/2331216520980299

Cited by 29 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(54 reference statements)

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“…Our results demonstrated the importance of EHF information in speech recognition and therefore stress the importance of EHF hearing. This study and much published research found correlations between EHF hearing and speech perception in challenging conditions (Badri et al 2011; Yeend et al 2017, 2019; Motlagh Zadeh et al 2019; Trine & Monson 2020). Therefore, audiologists should consider adding at least 1 EHF (e.g., 12 kHz) to the standard test frequencies in audiometry.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

“…However, over the past two decades, compelling evidence has come to light that extended high-frequency (EHF; frequencies >8 kHz) cues: (1) are richly available in speech (Moore et al 2008; Monson et al 2012), (2) are important in front-back sound localization (Best et al 2005), (3) play a role in sound quality assessment (Moore & Tan 2003; Monson et al 2011, 2014), (4) improve phoneme identification when lower-frequency information is absent or degraded (Lippmann 1996; Vitela et al 2015), (5) enhance speech recognition in noise when target and masker talkers are spatially separated (Levy et al 2015) or have mismatched head orientations (Monson et al 2019; Trine & Monson 2020), and from recent studies, (6) improve speech recognition in noise in diotic listening conditions (Motlagh Zadeh et al 2019, 2020). Thus, EHFs are relevant, particularly in challenging listening conditions such as recognizing speech-in-noise.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Importance of Extended High-Frequency Speech Information in the Recognition of Digits, Words, and Sentences in Quiet and Noise

Polspoel

Kramer

Dijk³

et al. 2021

Ear &Amp; Hearing

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In pure-tone audiometry, hearing thresholds are typically measured up to 8 kHz. Recent research has shown that extended highfrequency (EHF; frequencies >8 kHz) speech information improves speech recognition. However, it is unclear whether the EHF benefit is present for different types of speech material. This study assesses the added value of EHF information for speech recognition in noise for digit triplets, consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words, and sentences; and for speech recognition in quiet for CVC.Design: Twenty-four young adults with normal-hearing thresholds up to 16 kHz performed a listening experiment in quiet and in noise in a within-subject repeated measures design. Stimuli were presented monaurally. Steady state speech-shaped noise at a fixed signal to noise ratio was used for measurements in noise. Listening conditions varied only in terms of available EHF information. Stimuli were presented in three different conditions: (1) both speech and noise broadband, (2) speech broadband and noise low-pass filtered at 8 kHz, and (3) both speech and noise low-pass filtered at 8 kHz. In the speech-in-quiet experiment, stimuli (CVC) were high-pass filtered at 3 kHz and presented in two conditions: (1) with EHF information and (2) without EHF information. Results:In the speech-in-noise experiment, for all speech material, the highest scores were achieved in the condition where the noise was low-pass filtered at 8 kHz and speech unfiltered; the lowest scores were obtained in the condition where both speech and noise were low-pass filtered at 8 kHz. Adding speech frequencies above 8 kHz improved the median recognition scores by 75.0%, 21.8%, and 23.8% for digit triplets, words, and sentences, respectively, at a fixed signal to noise ratio. In the speech-in-quiet experiment, median recognition scores were 7.8% higher in the condition where the EHF information was available, as opposed to when it was not.Conclusions: Speech information for frequencies above 8 kHz contributes to speech recognition in noise. It also contributes to speech recognition in quiet when information below 3 kHz is absent. Our results suggest that EHFs may be relevant in challenging listening conditions and should be measured in pure-tone audiometry to get a complete picture of a person's hearing. Further, results of speech recognition tests may vary when different recording and/or measurement equipment is used with different frequency responses above 8 kHz.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Extended High-Frequency Speech Information in the Recognition of Digits, Words, and Sentences in Quiet and Noise

Polspoel

Kramer

Dijk³

et al. 2021

Ear &Amp; Hearing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The effects of low-pass filtering EHFs on speech-in-noise recognition have been equivocal as well. Trine and Monson (2020) showed that access to EHF (up to 20 kHz) temporal information improved speech-in-speech recognition relative to speech bandlimited to 8 kHz. In addition, the performance was sensitive to masker head orientation, similar to a previous study (Monson et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extended High-frequency Hearing Impairment Despite a Normal Audiogram: Relation to Early Aging, Speech-in-noise Perception, Cochlear Function, and Routine Earphone Use

2021

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Objectives: Humans can hear up to 20 kHz. Emerging evidence suggests that hearing in the extended high frequencies (EHFs; >8 kHz) contributes to speech perception in noise. The objective of the present study was to describe the features of EHF hearing impairment in young adults with normal standard audiograms (0.25-8 kHz). Specifically, the study goals were to: (1) characterize the EHF hearing impairment and identify potential risk factors; (2) elucidate the age-related changes in EHF hearing; (3) determine the effect of EHF hearing impairment on speechin-noise recognition; and (4) examine the extent to which EHF hearing impairment influences cochlear functioning in the standard frequencies.Design: Hearing thresholds at standard frequencies and EHFs (10, 12.5, 14, and 16 kHz), and speech recognition thresholds (SRTs) using digit triplets in multi-talker babble were measured in both ears from 222 participants (19-38 years; n = 444 ears) with normal audiograms (≤20 dB HL at standard frequencies). Test-retest measurement of hearing thresholds was obtained in a subset of 50 participants (100 ears), and clinical distortion product otoacoustic emissions (f 2 frequency = 2, 3, 4, and 5 kHz) were recorded in 49 participants (98 ears).Results: Forty-two of 222 participants had EHF hearing impairment (>20 dB HL for at least one EHF in either ear). Only seven individuals with EHF impairment had significant case history and/or listening-in-noise complaints. A breakpoint in the threshold-age function was observed for the EHFs for males but not for females. Linear mixed models revealed a significant effect of age, pure-tone averages for speech frequencies (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz), and EHFs and group (NH versus EHF hearing impairment) independent of each other on the SRTs. Individuals with EHF hearing impairment had less measurable emissions and when present, had a lower magnitude of otoacoustic emissions relative to NH controls. There was no difference in hearing thresholds, SRTs, or otoacoustic emissions between earphone users and nonusers. Conclusions:The hearing thresholds for the EHFs exhibit signs of early auditory aging. Age-related deterioration in auditory function can be observed in the third decade of human life. A breakpoint in the threshold-age function suggests that rapid aging processes are operational at a relatively younger age (21 years) for males. The audibility of EHFs contributes to speech-in-noise recognition. EHF hearing impairment independent of age and speech frequencies can affect speech-in-noise recognition. Reduced distortion product otoacoustic emissions in the standard frequencies may suggest preclinical cochlear degeneration in individuals with EHF hearing impairment.

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“…45 Recent work highlights the importance of auditory sensitivity in the EHFs while listening in background noise. [58][59][60][61] These results suggest that EHF audiometry may be of importance in a standard clinical test battery. Beyond behavioral measures of hearing function, physiological assessments such as otoacoustic emissions, ABRs, and electrocochleography provide objective measurements of hearing function and should be considered in a test battery to assess a patient for regenerative therapy.…”

Section: Conclusion and Thoughts On The Future Of Audiologic Testingmentioning

confidence: 84%

Approaches to Treat Sensorineural Hearing Loss by Hair-Cell Regeneration: The Current State of Therapeutic Developments and Their Potential Impact on Audiological Clinical Practice

et al. 2021

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Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is typically a permanent and often progressive condition that is commonly attributed to sensory cell loss. All vertebrates except mammals can regenerate lost sensory cells. Thus, SNHL is currently only treated with hearing aids or cochlear implants. There has been extensive research to understand how regeneration occurs in nonmammals, how hair cells form during development, and what limits regeneration in maturing mammals. These studies motivated efforts to identify therapeutic interventions to regenerate hair cells as a treatment for hearing loss, with a focus on targeting supporting cells to form new sensory hair cells. The approaches include gene therapy and small molecule delivery to the inner ear. At the time of this publication, early-stage clinical trials have been conducted to test targets that have shown evidence of regenerating sensory hair cells in preclinical models. As these potential treatments move closer to a clinical reality, it will be important to understand which therapeutic option is most appropriate for a given population. It is also important to consider which audiological tests should be administered to identify hearing improvement while considering the pharmacokinetics and mechanism of a given approach. Some impacts on audiological practice could include implementing less common audiological measures as standard procedure. As devices are not capable of repairing the damaged underlying biology, hair-cell regeneration treatments could allow patients to benefit more from their devices, move from a cochlear implant candidate to a hearing aid candidate, or move a subject to not needing an assistive device. Here, we describe the background, current state, and future implications of hair-cell regeneration research.

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Extended High Frequencies Provide Both Spectral and Temporal Information to Improve Speech-in-Speech Recognition

Cited by 29 publications

References 36 publications

The Importance of Extended High-Frequency Speech Information in the Recognition of Digits, Words, and Sentences in Quiet and Noise

The Importance of Extended High-Frequency Speech Information in the Recognition of Digits, Words, and Sentences in Quiet and Noise

Extended High-frequency Hearing Impairment Despite a Normal Audiogram: Relation to Early Aging, Speech-in-noise Perception, Cochlear Function, and Routine Earphone Use

Approaches to Treat Sensorineural Hearing Loss by Hair-Cell Regeneration: The Current State of Therapeutic Developments and Their Potential Impact on Audiological Clinical Practice

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