Investigating the relationship between directional microphones, compression, and working memory in realistic spatial conditions

研究现实空间条件下定向麦克风、压缩和工作记忆之间的关系

• 批准号: 10307562
• 负责人: Varsha Hariram Rallapalli
• 金额: $ 10.09万
• 依托单位: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2019-12-01 至 2023-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10307562
• 关键词: Acoustics; Adherence; Adult; Advocate; Affect; Area; Audiology; Auditory; Award; Behavioral Research; Clinical; Clinical Trials; Cognitive; Communication; Diffuse; Disadvantaged; Environment; Goals; Hearing; Hearing Aids; Impairment; Improve Access; Individual; Influentials; Intervention; Location; Manufacturer Name; Measurement; Measures; Mentored Research Scientist Development Award; Mentorship; Mission; Modification; National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders; Noise; Outcome; Patients; Pattern; Performance; Process; Protocols documentation; Rehabilitation therapy; Research; Research Personnel; Research Training; Scientific Advances and Accomplishments; Sensory; Short-Term Memory; Signal Transduction; Source; Speech; Speed; Structure; Technology; Testing; Training; Universities; Work; base; clinically relevant; cognitive ability; design; experience; hearing impairment; improved; individual variation; microphone; personalized care; response; satisfaction; signal processing; skills; social engagement; sound

Project summary Hearing aids have specialized features to improve access to sounds for the hearing-impaired listener. The choice of appropriate hearing aid settings is integral to the hearing rehabilitative process. Researchers and clinicians have been influenced by previous work showing that individual cognitive abilities, including working memory are associated with hearing aid benefit, especially in adverse listening conditions. However, previous research is limited to omnidirectional microphone settings and unrealistic listening conditions. Such conditions fail to recognize that most hearing aids are fit with directional processing that may improve the listening environment, and that typical environments contain speech and noise signals in a range of spatial locations. Therefore, the broad goal of this research is to understand how patient variables interact with hearing aid signal processing in realistic listening conditions in order to effectively treat hearing-impaired individuals in communications situations that are most important to them. The proposed work is in alignment with NIDCD's mission to conduct and support behavioral research and research training in interventions (i.e. hearing aids) that substitute for lost/impaired sensory and communication function (i.e., hearing loss). The specific aims examine the relationship between working memory and hearing aid signal processing (WDRC in the presence of microphone directionality) in spatial conditions ideal for directionality (Aim 1) and realistic spatial conditions (Aim 2). In a clinical trial, hearing-impaired listeners will use wearable hearing aids with different hearing aid processing settings (WDRC speeds, microphone directionality patterns and technology) and identify speech in different listening conditions (spatially varying speech and noise). Performance across conditions will be related to listeners' auditory abilities and working memory capacities using a mixed design. Existing acoustic metrics will be used to associate individual outcomes to overall signal fidelity across conditions. The K01 award will enable the PI to build upon her existing research and clinical experience with hearing aids and provide structured training in the following areas: a) focused research on the impact of microphone directionality on individual hearing aid outcomes in realistic spatial conditions, b) designing a clinical trial with wearable hearing aids, and c) advancing scientific communication skills. Research and training experience through this award will help the PI achieve her long-term goal of performing rigorous independent research in the individualized care of hearing-impaired adults. The proposed work will take place at Northwestern University under the mentorship of Dr. Pamela Souza and Dr. Richard Freyman.

项目总结