Trends in Hearing最新文献_第2页

How Temporal Overlap in Task Processing and Acoustic Load Affect Listening Effort in Adults. 任务加工和声负荷的时间重叠如何影响成人的听力努力。

IF 3.4 2区医学

Trends in Hearing Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2026-08-25 DOI: 10.1177/23312165261472354

Julia Seitz, Jana R Berger, Maria Anastasia Sinarso, Janina Fels

{"title":"How Temporal Overlap in Task Processing and Acoustic Load Affect Listening Effort in Adults.","authors":"Julia Seitz, Jana R Berger, Maria Anastasia Sinarso, Janina Fels","doi":"10.1177/23312165261472354","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23312165261472354","url":null,"abstract":"Listening effort reflects the cognitive resources allocated to overcome obstacles in auditory processing. While acoustic degradation (e.g., noise, reverberation) is known to affect listening effort, little is known about how temporal overlap of task processing influences effortful listening in adults. This study examined behavioral and subjective listening effort in 26 adults using a sequential dual-task paradigm manipulating stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA; 0.05 s, 0.25 s, 1.5 s, single task), noise condition (silence, multi-talker babble at 0 dB SNR), and acoustic environment (anechoic, room effects of T30 = 0.49 s). Task difficulty via decreasing stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) significantly increased word recognition response times and subjective effort ratings, even when speech intelligibility remained high <math><mrow><mo>(</mo><mrow><mo>∼</mo><mn>90</mn><mi>%</mi></mrow><mo>)</mo></mrow></math>. Noise effects emerged only at longer SOAs, but vanished at very short SOAs where capacity was exhausted, indicating that SOA is a stronger predictor of listening effort than noise exposure. Interestingly, mild reverberation reduced behavioral listening effort compared to anechoic conditions in silence.","PeriodicalId":48678,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Hearing","volume":"30 ","pages":"23312165261472354"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13519201/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148820075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Using Hearing Aids for Music: A UK Survey of Challenges and Strategies. 使用助听器听音乐：英国的挑战和策略调查。

IF 3.4 2区医学

Trends in Hearing Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-22 DOI: 10.1177/23312165251396517

Alinka E Greasley, Amy V Beeston, Robert J Fulford, Harriet Crook, Jackie M Salter, Robin Hake, Brian C J Moore

{"title":"Using Hearing Aids for Music: A UK Survey of Challenges and Strategies.","authors":"Alinka E Greasley, Amy V Beeston, Robert J Fulford, Harriet Crook, Jackie M Salter, Robin Hake, Brian C J Moore","doi":"10.1177/23312165251396517","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23312165251396517","url":null,"abstract":"Hearing aids, which are primarily designed to improve the intelligibility of speech, can negatively affect the perception and enjoyment of music. This large-scale survey study, conducted between 2016 and 2018, explored hearing aid use and preference behavior in both recorded and live music listening settings, aiming to understand the challenges and strategies used by listeners to improve their experiences, and how these may be affected by level of hearing loss (HL). One thousand five hundred and seven hearing aid users (mean age = 60 years) completed an online survey about their music listening behavior and use of hearing aids. Results showed that whilst hearing aids support engagement in music listening, they also present many issues and overall helpfulness is mixed. The most commonly reported issue was distortion and poor sound quality, particularly in loud or live contexts. The most frequently reported strategy for reducing distortion was to remove hearing aids altogether. Only a third of the sample reported using a music program and effectiveness was mixed, suggesting that manufacturer music programs do not currently provide significant benefits for music listening, and further research into the use, uptake and efficacy of music programs is needed. We call for further research into signal processing strategies for music especially for high sound levels such as live music or concert settings. The positive impact of mindsets supporting proactive behaviors, perseverance, adaptation, and experimentation with different technologies, genres, and listening environments was highlighted, strengthening the evidence base for audiologists to provide music listening guidance in the clinic.","PeriodicalId":48678,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Hearing","volume":"30 ","pages":"23312165251396517"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12833179/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146020269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Influence of the Electrode-Neuron Interface and Asymmetry of Pulses on the Spread of Excitation in Cochlear Implants: A Computational Study. 电极-神经元界面和脉冲不对称性对人工耳蜗内激发扩散影响的计算研究。

IF 3.4 2区医学

Trends in Hearing Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2026-04-10 DOI: 10.1177/23312165261438853

Hyejin Yang, Jihwan Woo

{"title":"Influence of the Electrode-Neuron Interface and Asymmetry of Pulses on the Spread of Excitation in Cochlear Implants: A Computational Study.","authors":"Hyejin Yang, Jihwan Woo","doi":"10.1177/23312165261438853","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23312165261438853","url":null,"abstract":"Current spread in cochlear implants (CIs) degrades spectral resolution and speech perception by broadening neural excitation. Asymmetric pulses have been proposed to mitigate this issue; however, their practical application in CI strategies remains challenging owing to the potential temporal overlap between pulses from adjacent channels. In the present study, we employed a computational model to evaluate the effects of charge-balanced asymmetric pulses with varying second-phase durations on the spread of neural excitation (SOE) and neural activation. The SOE was assessed under different electrode-auditory nerve fiber (ANF) distances to explore the interaction between the pulse configuration and the neural interface. At greater electrode-ANF distances, increasing the second phase lowers the stimulation thresholds effect. However, at shorter distances, a prolonged second-phase duration induces neural inhibition and degraded neural activity patterns. Therefore, the efficacy of asymmetric pulses in reducing the SOE depends on the electrode position. Furthermore, a moderate increase in the second-phase duration may offer a promising direction for optimizing CI stimulation and enhancing speech perception.","PeriodicalId":48678,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Hearing","volume":"30 ","pages":"23312165261438853"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13070182/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147647011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Predicting Spectro-Temporal Modulation Detection Thresholds With a Functional Auditory Model. 用功能性听觉模型预测光谱-时间调制检测阈值。

IF 3.4 2区医学

Trends in Hearing Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-19 DOI: 10.1177/23312165261425853

Lily Cassandra Paulick, Torsten Dau, Helia Relaño-Iborra

{"title":"Predicting Spectro-Temporal Modulation Detection Thresholds With a Functional Auditory Model.","authors":"Lily Cassandra Paulick, Torsten Dau, Helia Relaño-Iborra","doi":"10.1177/23312165261425853","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23312165261425853","url":null,"abstract":"Spectro-temporal modulation (STM) sensitivity has been proposed as a sensitive marker of speech intelligibility in challenging listening conditions, yet the underlying auditory mechanisms involved in STM detection remain incompletely understood. The present study measured STM detection thresholds in young normal-hearing and older hearing-impaired listeners and evaluated whether the revised Computational Auditory Signal Processing and Perception model (CASP) can account for individual performance. Thresholds were obtained for six modulation detection conditions, defined by combinations of spectral (0, 1, and 2 c/o) and temporal (4 and 12 Hz) rates. To individualize CASP, outer and inner hair cell loss estimates were obtained from audiometric and Adaptive Categorical Loudness Scaling (ACALOS) data. The results showed systematically elevated thresholds in older hearing-impaired listeners as compared to the young normal-hearing group, particularly at higher spectral rates. The model simulations reproduced overall threshold patterns, but substantially underestimated group differences and interindividual variability in the data. Moreover, the simulations showed limited sensitivity to estimates of outer and inner hair cell loss, supporting the idea that additional supra-threshold mechanisms contribute to STM deficits. While these findings demonstrate the potential of auditory models to predict STM performance, they also highlight the need for refined representations of peripheral and central processing to account for individual STM detection thresholds.","PeriodicalId":48678,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Hearing","volume":"30 ","pages":"23312165261425853"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12925006/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146229222","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Own-Voice Perception with Different Processing Delays in Open-Fit Hearing Aids. 不同加工延迟的开式助听器自身语音感知。

IF 3.4 2区医学

Trends in Hearing Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2026-03-23 DOI: 10.1177/23312165261435260

Borgný Súsonnudóttir, Lars D Mosgaard, Georg Stiefenhofer, Pamela E Souza, Tobias Neher

{"title":"Own-Voice Perception with Different Processing Delays in Open-Fit Hearing Aids.","authors":"Borgný Súsonnudóttir, Lars D Mosgaard, Georg Stiefenhofer, Pamela E Souza, Tobias Neher","doi":"10.1177/23312165261435260","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23312165261435260","url":null,"abstract":"In open-fit hearing aids (HAs), the interaction between the direct and processed sound leads to comb-filtering and, thus, perceived coloration effects. The magnitude of these effects depends on the level difference between the direct and processed sound and on the processing delay. A critical issue for HA uptake and use is own-voice perception, which the current study focused on. Its aims were to investigate (1) whether short processing delay is preferred over longer delays, (2) how processing delay influences different perceptual dimensions related to own-voice perception, and (3) whether spectral discrimination abilities can predict delay preference. Twenty-four individuals with mild-to-moderate hearing impairment participated. Using prototype receiver-in-the-canal HAs, processing delays of 0.5, 5, and 10 ms were compared. Delay preference was assessed using a paired-comparison task. Perceptual dimensions relating to own-voice perception were investigated using a customized version of the \"Own Voice Qualities\" questionnaire. Spectral discrimination abilities were assessed using a spectral ripple discrimination (SRD) task. The analyses showed that the 0.5-ms delay was preferred over the longer delays. Furthermore, the 0.5-ms delay received better ratings related to tonality perception (e.g., attributes such as metallic and sharp) and own-voice quality compared to the 10-ms delay. SRD abilities did not predict delay preference. Overall, these results provide insights into how open-fit HAs can be optimized with respect to own-voice perception.","PeriodicalId":48678,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Hearing","volume":"30 ","pages":"23312165261435260"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13009764/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147500133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Measuring Spectrotemporal Sensitivity in Cochlear Implant Users With a Reaction-Time Paradigm: A Comparison of Two Implementations. 用反应时间范式测量人工耳蜗使用者的光谱时间灵敏度：两种实现的比较。

IF 3.4 2区医学

Trends in Hearing Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2026-03-30 DOI: 10.1177/23312165261436198

Elisabeth Noordanus, Lucas H M Mens, Josef Chalupper, Tobias Balkenhol, Marc M Van Wanrooij, Adrianus John Van Opstal

{"title":"Measuring Spectrotemporal Sensitivity in Cochlear Implant Users With a Reaction-Time Paradigm: A Comparison of Two Implementations.","authors":"Elisabeth Noordanus, Lucas H M Mens, Josef Chalupper, Tobias Balkenhol, Marc M Van Wanrooij, Adrianus John Van Opstal","doi":"10.1177/23312165261436198","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23312165261436198","url":null,"abstract":"This study evaluated two implementations of a reaction-time paradigm to assess spectrotemporal modulation sensitivity in cochlear implant (CI) users, aiming to support both clinical and research applications. Reaction times directly reflect task difficulty, enabling rapid testing with stimuli presented well above modulation detection thresholds. Twenty unilateral CI users completed a task involving the unpredictable onset of broadband and narrowband spectrotemporal modulations embedded in noise. Testing was conducted using two implementations: an app on a smartphone with direct wireless streaming to the CI processor and touchscreen responses (\"App\"), and a free-field setup with laptop and spacebar responses (\"Laptop\"), administered 2 to 3 months apart. Speech-in-noise perception was assessed with a matrix test. Reaction times showed strong within-participant consistency across implementations, demonstrating robustness over time and across different delivery and response setups. Individual differences in sensitivity to spectral and temporal modulations were evident and showed strong correspondence between the two implementations. Reaction-time-based modulation transfer functions matched those reported in previous psychophysical studies. Notably, reaction times correlated most strongly (r = 0.6-0.7) with speech-in-noise scores for spectrotemporal modulations relevant to speech, particularly spectral densities of 0.25-0.5 cycles/octave combined with temporal rates up to 16 Hz. These findings support the use of reaction times to measure spectrotemporal sensitivity in CI users.","PeriodicalId":48678,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Hearing","volume":"30 ","pages":"23312165261436198"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13039611/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147582942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

The Effect of Deep Neural Network Implementation on Speech Recognition, Listening Effort, and Sound Quality in Older Adults With Mild to Moderately Severe Hearing Loss. 深度神经网络应用对轻度至中度听力损失老年人语音识别、听力努力和音质的影响。

IF 3.4 2区医学

Trends in Hearing Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2026-05-13 DOI: 10.1177/23312165261449983

Paula Folkeard, Vahid Ashkanichenarlogh, Mohamed Rahme, Vijay Parsa, Volker Kühnel, Bilal Sheikh, Jinyu Qian, Yu-Ying Sung, Susan Scollie

{"title":"The Effect of Deep Neural Network Implementation on Speech Recognition, Listening Effort, and Sound Quality in Older Adults With Mild to Moderately Severe Hearing Loss.","authors":"Paula Folkeard, Vahid Ashkanichenarlogh, Mohamed Rahme, Vijay Parsa, Volker Kühnel, Bilal Sheikh, Jinyu Qian, Yu-Ying Sung, Susan Scollie","doi":"10.1177/23312165261449983","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23312165261449983","url":null,"abstract":"Deep neural network (DNN)-based noise reduction has emerged as a promising advancement in hearing aid signal processing as a means to improve speech intelligibility in noisy environments for hearing aid wearers. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the DNN on speech intelligibility in speech-shaped noise (SSN) and multitalker babble (MTB) when the target speech was coming from the front and from the side. Subjective ratings of clarity, total impression, listening effort, and background noise awareness were also collected. Twenty adult participants with mild to moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss were fitted with hearing aids from a single manufacturer, programmed with four different settings that varied across combinations of microphone directionality (omnidirectional and directional beamforming) and noise reduction (off, traditional, DNN). Results showed that DNN, when combined with beamforming, consistently outperformed the other programs across all metrics. Outcomes were influenced by both noise type and spatial configuration. DNN was more effective in SSN than MTB. Beamforming was especially beneficial when the target speech came from the front. Listening in programs that included both DNN and beamforming together resulted in additional benefits shown in the outcome measures, most likely due to the beamforming improving the signal-to-noise ratio and providing a cleaner signal for the DNN to work with.","PeriodicalId":48678,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Hearing","volume":"30 ","pages":"23312165261449983"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13180067/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147934638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

When the First Pulse Fades: 75% Reduction in Precedence Effect in Cochlear Implanted Rats. 第一脉冲消退：人工耳蜗大鼠优先效应降低75%。

IF 3.4 2区医学

Trends in Hearing Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2026-04-23 DOI: 10.1177/23312165261441709

Alexa N Buck, Tim Fleiner, Nicole Rosskothen-Kuhl, Jan Wh Schnupp

{"title":"When the First Pulse Fades: 75% Reduction in Precedence Effect in Cochlear Implanted Rats.","authors":"Alexa N Buck, Tim Fleiner, Nicole Rosskothen-Kuhl, Jan Wh Schnupp","doi":"10.1177/23312165261441709","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23312165261441709","url":null,"abstract":"It is widely known that users of cochlear implants (CIs) often show deficits in binaural hearing. In particular, interaural time difference (ITD) discrimination tends to be substantially worse in CI users. However, only very few studies have investigated how CI stimulation affects the \"precedence effect\" (PE), and how this might be affected by abnormal hearing experience during development. We performed behavioral experiments to measure temporal weighting functions (TWFs) to quantify the PE in three different cohorts of rats: normally hearing (NH) acoustically stimulated, neonatally deafened (ND) CI-stimulated, and adult deafened (AD) CI-stimulated animals. Lateralization responses were recorded to bursts of eight stimulus pulses in which the ITD of each pulse varied independently, and probit analysis revealed the perceptual weight of each pulse. The NH and ND-CI cohorts were tested at 50, 300, and 900 pps; the AD-CI animals were tested only at 300 pps. The NH animals show a pronounced \"onset dominance\" at higher pulse rates, that is, the weighting of the first pulse was much larger than for subsequent pulses, exactly as one would expect given previous studies on human listeners. In contrast, the TWFs for the ND-CI and AD-CI animals were much flatter, with a reduction of onset dominance by ∼75%, especially for higher pulse rates. Since neither of our CI cohorts had any experience of reverberation in their electric hearing, we interpret these results to indicate that the PE may require domain-specific experience to develop.","PeriodicalId":48678,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Hearing","volume":"30 ","pages":"23312165261441709"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13121490/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147786412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Assessing Hearing-Related Quality of Life in Adults With Hearing Loss: Validation of the German Cochlear Implant Quality of Life (CIQOL)-35 Profile. 评估听力损失成人听力相关生活质量：德国人工耳蜗生活质量(CIQOL)-35的验证

IF 3.4 2区医学

Trends in Hearing Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2026-06-16 DOI: 10.1177/23312165261450792

Elena Pützer, Theodore R McRackan, Isabelle Boisvert, Judy R Dubno, Karolin Schäfer

{"title":"Assessing Hearing-Related Quality of Life in Adults With Hearing Loss: Validation of the German Cochlear Implant Quality of Life (CIQOL)-35 Profile.","authors":"Elena Pützer, Theodore R McRackan, Isabelle Boisvert, Judy R Dubno, Karolin Schäfer","doi":"10.1177/23312165261450792","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23312165261450792","url":null,"abstract":"Hearing-related quality of life is a crucial outcome for adults with cochlear implants. The Cochlear Implant Quality of Life (CIQOL)-35 Profile is a patient-reported outcome measure originally developed in English. In a previous study, this instrument was cross-culturally adapted into German to address the need for standardized assessment tools in German-speaking regions. To ensure the adapted instrument meets psychometric criteria, validation is required. The German adaptation of the CIQOL-35 Profile was validated through an online survey including questions on demographics, the German CIQOL-35 Profile, and the German Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire (NCIQ). The collected data were analyzed for reliability and validity. A total of 204 adults (aged 19-87 years) with bilateral hearing loss completed the online survey. Cronbach's α between 0.84 and 0.91 demonstrates good internal consistency for all subscales of the CIQOL-35 Profile and the global outcome. Moderate to strong correlations (rs = 0.55-0.85) between the CIQOL and NCIQ indicate good convergent validity. Confirmatory factor analysis established construct validity for the German CIQOL instruments. These findings confirm that the adapted German version of the CIQOL instruments is a reliable and valid measure for assessing hearing-related quality of life in adults with cochlear implants and demonstrates higher validity than the NCIQ. The availability of the CIQOL in multiple languages facilitates international comparability of research results and increases clinical application. Implementing quality of life instruments in clinical practice enables a more comprehensive evaluation of patient outcomes and may help identify patient needs that may be addressed in therapy and rehabilitation.","PeriodicalId":48678,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Hearing","volume":"30 ","pages":"23312165261450792"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13272987/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148260080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Excess Vowel Fusion in Hearing-Impaired Listeners Across Fundamental Frequency and Spatial Separation in the Free Field: An Alternative Mechanism for Difficulties With Speech in Noise. 在自由场的基频和空间分离中，听力受损听众的过量元音融合：噪声中言语困难的另一种机制。

IF 3.4 2区医学

Trends in Hearing Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2026-07-25 DOI: 10.1177/23312165261473398

Michelle R Molis, Briana N Martinez, Nicole Dean, Lina A J Reiss

{"title":"Excess Vowel Fusion in Hearing-Impaired Listeners Across Fundamental Frequency and Spatial Separation in the Free Field: An Alternative Mechanism for Difficulties With Speech in Noise.","authors":"Michelle R Molis, Briana N Martinez, Nicole Dean, Lina A J Reiss","doi":"10.1177/23312165261473398","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23312165261473398","url":null,"abstract":"Binaural fusion occurs when signals arriving separately at the two ears are perceived as one sound. Previously, it was shown that normal-hearing (NH) or hearing-impaired (HI) listeners fused and perceptually averaged dichotic vowels presented through headphones. HI listeners even fused vowels with different fundamental frequencies (F0s), indicating a new alternative mechanism underlying difficulties with speech segregation. To extend these findings to a more real-world listening context, the current study investigated if vowel fusion and averaging would also occur in the free field. Synthesized vowels/with F0s of 106.9, 151.2, or 201.8 Hz and were presented simultaneously via loudspeakers located on the left and right at ±60° relative to the listener's head. Listeners indicated which single vowel or two vowels they heard. Similar trends of vowel fusion were observed as in the previous study. For ΔF0=0, both groups showed high rates of vowel fusion. For ΔF0>0, NH listeners showed decreased fusion, but fusion remained high for HI listeners. Compared to headphone presentation, overall vowel fusion occurred less frequently under free field presentation, with different patterns of perceptual averaging. Results suggest that cues available in the free field may help reduce vowel fusion, especially in NH listeners and for vowels with the same F0. However, HI listeners still experience excessive vowel fusion in the free field, even with ΔF0 as large as 6-11 semitones. These findings reinforce the importance of reducing both the blending of multiple speech streams and excessive fusion to address difficulties with understanding speech in noise.","PeriodicalId":48678,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Hearing","volume":"30 ","pages":"23312165261473398"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13401635/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148594305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0