Restoring Cochlear Signal Processing

摘要 许多可以从助听器(HA)中受益的听力损失(HL)患者选择不使用它们 因为效益有限，音质差。当前的高可用性信号处理策略提高了可听度 并尝试恢复耳蜗压，当HL发生时，耳蜗压减少或消失。然而，其他 耳蜗区的过程，如抑制，也会因HL而减少，但受到的关注较少。 正常的耳蜗声抑制，通过同时呈现一个声音而减少对一个声音的反应 另一种声音在复杂刺激的处理中很重要，例如语音。这样做的长期目标是 研究计划是恢复当HL发生时减少的耳蜗过程，通过开发 创新的信号处理策略。我们计划将信号处理设计基于以下知识 基本的耳蜗突。这项建议的目标是改善医管局的福利和增加满意度 通过将基于响度数据的个性化拟合过程与处理相结合，为HL患者提供帮助 恢复镇压的策略。响度数据可能会更好地预测HA的益处，因为与 阈值，它量化了一系列声级的HL。这项提议的目标是将 在HA信号处理中恢复耳蜗声抑制和正常响度以改善语音 感知和用户满意度，最终促进HA的使用。信号处理算法(称为 抑制性助听器(SHA)已经开发出来，初步数据令人鼓舞。然而， 还需要进一步的测试和更多的数据来确定好处的程度。假设将是 通过追求两个具体目标进行测试：(1)确定恢复正常响度发育的有效性 (2)评估SHA在非平稳掩蔽噪声中的性能。在目标1中， 假设将恢复音调正常响度的增益处方与信号处理相结合 恢复抑制将有效地恢复宽带声音的正常响度将进行测试。数据 在这一目标下收集的信息将有助于我们理解抑制在响度总和中的作用。这个 SHA的瞬时压缩保留了时间语音提示，而不会对语音产生有害影响 质量，而抑制保留了光谱线索。AIM 2测试了一种假设，患有HL的听众有 在嘈杂环境中处理语音有困难，将受益于保留所提供的语音线索 通过SHA处理，在存在非平稳噪声的情况下获得语音感知益处。我们 假设SHA将在噪声的频谱和时间下降期间提供对语音提示的访问， 使患有HL的听众能够在低谷期间“瞥见”讲话。拟议的研究将向我们的 当HL以可能导致其他复杂疾病的方式出现时，对耳蜗过程的理解 超越了提供放大和压缩的处理策略。

ABSTRACT Many people with hearing loss (HL) who could benefit from hearing aids (HA) choose not to use them because of limited benefit and poor sound quality. Current HA signal-processing strategies improve audibility and attempt to restore cochlear compression, which is reduced or absent when HL occurs. However, other cochlear processes, such as suppression, are also diminished with HL, but have received less attention. Normal cochlear suppression, the reduction in the response to one sound by the simultaneous presentation of another sound, is important in the processing of complex stimuli, such as speech. The long-term goal of this research program is to restore cochlear processes that are diminished when HL occurs by developing innovative signal-processing strategies. We plan to base the signal-processing design on knowledge of fundamental cochlear processes. The goal of this proposal is to improve HA benefit and increase satisfaction for persons with HL by coupling individualized fitting procedures based on loudness data with processing strategies that restore suppression. Loudness data may offer better prediction of HA benefit because, unlike thresholds, it quantifies HL across a range of sound levels. The goal of this proposal is to integrate the restoration of cochlear suppression and normal loudness into HA signal processing to improve speech perception and user satisfaction, ultimately promoting HA use. A signal-processing algorithm (referred to as the suppression hearing aid, SHA) has been developed and preliminary data have been encouraging. However, further testing and additional data are needed to determine the extent of the benefits. Hypotheses will be tested by pursuing two specific aims: (1) Determine the efficacy of restoring normal loudness growth for broadband sounds, and (2) Evaluate the performance of SHA in non-stationary masking noise. In Aim 1, the hypothesis that combining gain prescription that restores normal loudness for tones with signal processing that restores suppression will be effective in restoring normal loudness for broadband sounds will be tested. Data gathered under this aim will inform our understanding of the role of suppression in loudness summation. The instantaneous compression of SHA preserves temporal speech cues without deleterious effects on speech quality, while suppression preserves spectral cues. Aim 2 tests the hypothesis that listeners with HL, who have difficulties processing speech in noisy environments, will benefit from the preservation of speech cues provided by SHA processing and obtain speech-perception benefits in the presence of non-stationary noise. We hypothesize that SHA will provide access to speech cues during spectral and temporal dips in the noise, enabling listeners with HL to "glimpse" speech during the dips. The proposed research will inform our understanding of cochlear processes when HL is present in ways that may lead to other sophisticated processing strategies that go beyond providing amplification and compression.