Ability of older adults to benefit from dynamic pitch for speech recognition in noise

 描述(申请人提供)：在噪音中识别语音的困难对年长的听者参与社会活动和获得医疗护理的能力构成了巨大的挑战，经常导致社交孤立、认知能力下降和心理障碍。基音高由语音中的基频(F0)定义，是在有噪声存在的情况下语音可理解性的最强有力的线索之一。虽然来自听力正常的年轻听者的数据表明，动态音调提示有助于在噪音中进行语音识别，但一些年长的听者可能会因为无法感知而被剥夺了从这种提示中受益的机会。这项建议的目的1是确定年长听者的个体感知动态音调的能力是否有助于在噪声中进行语音识别。我们将使用基音轮廓识别测试来量化动态基音感知，同时进行基音辨别测试来控制感知状态基音的能力。在噪声中理解语音的困难程度将通过主观和客观测试来衡量。数据将从老年性耳聋和年龄较大的接近正常听力的听众那里获得，以证明与听力损失和衰老有关的广泛变异性。预计AIM 1实验的结果将作为设计定制临床方法的基础，这些方法涉及动态基音感知作为噪声中语音缺陷的潜在贡献者。基音轮廓增强语音识别的有效性还取决于噪声场景和听者特征。该提案的目的2是阐明环境和听者因素对动态基音提示在年龄和听力状态不同的老年人增强语音识别的有效性的调节作用。动态基音提示的益处由三种目标语音条件(正常轮廓、平坦轮廓和强轮廓)上的语音识别性能的差异来定义。将比较调制噪声和静态噪声以及语音和非语音噪声之间的益处大小。预测在调制噪声中比在静态噪声中更高，在语音掩蔽器中比在非语音掩蔽器中更高。年龄和听力损失预计会影响动态音高的益处。Aim 2实验的结果可以指导技术的发展和康复计划，以增强动态音调线索在这些重要噪声情况下的效果。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Difficulty recognizing speech in noise presents a great challenge to an older listener's ability to participate in social activities and obtain medicl care, often resulting in social isolation, cognitive decline, and psychological disturbance. Voice pitch, as defined by fundamental frequency (F0) in speech, is one of the most powerful cues for speech intelligibility in the presence of noise. While data from younger normal-hearing listeners suggest dynamic pitch cue is helpful for speech recognition in noise, some older listeners may be deprived of benefit from this cue because they cannot perceive it. Aim 1 of this proposal is to determine whether older listeners' individual ability to perceive dynamic pitch contributes to speech recognition in noise. We will use a pitch contour identification test to quantify dynamic pitch perception, while having a pitch discrimination test to control for ability to perceive stati pitch. The amount of difficulty understanding speech in noise will be measured by subjective and objective tests. Data will be acquired from both presbycusic and older near-normal hearing listeners to demonstrate a wide range of variability associated with hearing loss and aging. It is anticipated that the outcome of the Aim 1 experiments will serve as a foundation for devising customized clinical approaches that involve dynamic pitch perception as a potential contributor to speech-in-noise deficit. The efficacy of pitch contour for enhancing speech recognition also depends on the noise scenario and listener characteristics. Aim 2 of the proposal is to elucidate the environmental and listener factors modulating the efficacy of dynamic pitch cue for enhancing speech recognition in older adults with variability in age and hearing status. The benefit of dynamic pitch cue is defined by the differences in speech recognition performance across three target speech conditions (normal contour, flat contour, and strong contour). The amounts of benefit will be compared between modulated versus static noises, as well as between speech versus non-speech noises. It is predicted to be higher in modulated noise than in static noise, and to be higher in speech masker than in non-speech masker. Age and hearing loss are expected to influence the amount of benefit from dynamic pitch. The outcome of the Aim 2 experiments can direct development of technology and rehabilitation program that enhance the efficacy of dynamic pitch cue in these important noise situations.