Effects of Auditory Neuropathy and Cochlear Hearing Loss on Speech Perception

项目摘要 获得高质量的听觉输入对于成功的言语和语言发展至关重要。听力损失 由听神经病（AN）或耳蜗性听力损失（C-HL）引起的听觉信号降低，但在 不同的方式在解释了可听度之后，患有C-HL的听众通常表现出正常或接近正常的时间 分辨率降低，伴随着光谱分辨率降低。许多患有AN的听众显示出较差的时间分辨率。 这一点很重要，因为听众对时间和频率线索的获取差异会影响对 支持语言习得和言语感知的声学-语音线索。拟议研究 将评估降低频谱和时间分辨率对语音的短期和长期影响 与听力正常儿童相比，AN和C-HL儿童的感知和语音意识。 评估将涉及频谱和时间分辨率以及言语感知的心理物理测试， 识别依赖于元音或辅音感知的单词。培训计划概述在此 奖学金的建议包括在研究设计，信号检测，语音等领域的技能发展 感知、语言发展、统计建模、专业网络发展和道德行为 的研究。北卡罗来纳州大学和博伊斯镇国家研究中心的综合资源 医院提供独特的技术培训和职业发展机会，除了无与伦比的 临床和研究工作成功整合的典范。

PROJECT SUMMARY Access to high-quality auditory input is crucial for successful speech and language development. Hearing losses caused by Auditory Neuropathy (AN) or Cochlear Hearing Loss (C-HL) degrade the auditory signal, but in different ways. After accounting for audibility, listeners with C-HL often exhibit normal or near-normal temporal resolution accompanied by impaired spectral resolution. Many listeners with AN display poor temporal resolution. This is important because differences in a listener’s access to timing and frequency cues can affect sensitivity to acoustic-phonetic cues that support both language acquisition and speech perception. The proposed research will evaluate the short-term and long-term effects of degraded spectral and temporal resolution on speech perception and phonological awareness in children with AN and C-HL compared to children with normal hearing. Evaluation will involve psychophysical tests of spectral and temporal resolution as well as speech perception for words in which recognition relies on either vowel or consonant perception. The training plan outlined in this fellowship proposal includes skill development in the areas of research design, signal detection, speech perception, language development, statistical modeling, professional network development, and ethical conduct of research. The combined resources of The University of North Carolina and Boys Town National Research Hospital provide unique opportunities for technical training and career development, in addition to unparalleled models of the successful integration of clinical and research endeavors.