Computer-Based Speech-Reception Training

描述(申请人提供)：听力损失患者的一个常见抱怨是在嘈杂的环境中理解语言的巨大困难。不幸的是，助听器会放大语音和背景噪音。通过磨练听力技能，可以在一定程度上提高人们对噪声中的言语理解能力。将开发一种自我引导的培训系统，以帮助助听器用户提高在背景噪音存在的情况下理解语音的能力。将使用现代技术，如相对便宜的个人计算机，或甚至更便宜的DVD播放机，来开发一种方便、娱乐和易于使用的系统。其目的是开发一种将被广泛使用的系统，从而改善相当数量的听力损失患者的生活质量。将为一项自我引导培训计划开发与公共健康相关的视听培训材料，以帮助助听器用户在嘈杂的环境中提高他们的语音接收技能。将进行三个实验来评估该训练系统。第一个实验将评估该系统的计算机版本。在为期6周的培训后，将测量新的和有经验的助听器使用者在噪音中语音接收的改善情况。第二个实验将评估两个基于DVD的培训计划版本。第三个实验将仅通过试听对培训系统进行评估。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A common complaint by people with hearing loss is the great difficulty they experience in understanding speech in a noisy environment. Hearing aids, unfortunately, amplify both speech and background noise. It is possible to improve speech understanding in noise to some extent by honing one's listening skills. A self-guiding training system will be developed to help hearing-aid users improve their ability to understand speech in the presence of background noise. Modern technology will be used, such as a relatively inexpensive personal computer, or an even less expensive DVD player, to develop a system that is convenient, entertaining and easy to use. The intent is to develop a system that will be widely used, thereby improving the quality of life for substantial numbers of people with hearing loss. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE Audio-visual training materials will be developed for a self-guiding training program to help hearing-aid users improve their speech reception skills in a noisy environment. Three experiments will be performed to evaluate the training system. The first experiment will evaluate a computer-based version of the system. The improvement in speech reception in noise will be measured for both new and experienced users of hearing aids after a 6-week training period. The second experiment will evaluate two DVD-based versions of the training program. The third experiment will evaluate the training system using audition only.