TY - JOUR
T1 - Subjective evaluation of single microphone noise reduction with different time constants
AU - Reinten, Ilja
AU - de Ronde-Brons, Inge
AU - Houben, Rolph
AU - Dreschler, Wouter
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Objective: Previous studies on single microphone noise reduction (NR) in hearing aids (HAs) have shown that some NR algorithms provide beneficial effects in terms of listener preference. To improve HA user satisfaction, we are interested in characteristics that determine preferences for NR, and in the inter-individual variability. The aim of this study was to test if dynamic properties of NR influence listener preference. Design: The gain reduction at speech offsets of a NR algorithm was slowed down by applying temporal exponential smoothing. At speech onsets the gain recovery was left unchanged. Test signals consisted of speech in continuous and modulated speech-shaped background noise, processed with three time constants: 0, 100, and 200 ms. Study sample: 16 Normal hearing (NH) and 16 hearing impaired (HI) subjects participated in a paired-comparison listening test. Results: NH subjects as a group had a significant preference for NR with time constants of 100, or 200 ms (slower acting NR). HI listeners as a group preferred NR over no NR, but had no clear preference for fast or slow NR. Patterns of preference differed between individual listeners. Conclusions: NR dynamics had an impact on individual listener preference and should be considered when optimising HAs.
AB - Objective: Previous studies on single microphone noise reduction (NR) in hearing aids (HAs) have shown that some NR algorithms provide beneficial effects in terms of listener preference. To improve HA user satisfaction, we are interested in characteristics that determine preferences for NR, and in the inter-individual variability. The aim of this study was to test if dynamic properties of NR influence listener preference. Design: The gain reduction at speech offsets of a NR algorithm was slowed down by applying temporal exponential smoothing. At speech onsets the gain recovery was left unchanged. Test signals consisted of speech in continuous and modulated speech-shaped background noise, processed with three time constants: 0, 100, and 200 ms. Study sample: 16 Normal hearing (NH) and 16 hearing impaired (HI) subjects participated in a paired-comparison listening test. Results: NH subjects as a group had a significant preference for NR with time constants of 100, or 200 ms (slower acting NR). HI listeners as a group preferred NR over no NR, but had no clear preference for fast or slow NR. Patterns of preference differed between individual listeners. Conclusions: NR dynamics had an impact on individual listener preference and should be considered when optimising HAs.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85073091070&origin=inward
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31322023
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2019.1641231
DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2019.1641231
M3 - Article
C2 - 31322023
SN - 1499-2027
VL - 58
SP - 780
EP - 789
JO - International Journal of Audiology
JF - International Journal of Audiology
IS - 11
ER -