Changes in Orientation Behavior due to Extended High-Frequency (5 to 10 kHz) Spatial Cues

Whitmer, William M.; McShefferty, David; Levy, Suzanne C.; Naylor, Graham; Edwards, Brent

Abstract

Objectives:
Current hearing aids have a limited bandwidth, which limits the intelligibility and quality of their output, and inhibits their uptake. Recent advances in signal processing, as well as novel methods of transduction, allow for a greater useable frequency range. Previous studies have shown a benefit for this extended bandwidth in consonant recognition, talker-sex identification, and separating sound sources. To explore whether there would be any direct spatial benefits to extending bandwidth, we used a dynamic localization method in a realistic situation.

Design:
Twenty-eight adult participants with minimal hearing loss reoriented themselves as quickly and accurately as comfortable to a new, off-axis near-field talker continuing a story in a background of far-field talkers of the same overall level in a simulated large room with common building materials. All stimuli were low-pass filtered at either 5 or 10 kHz on each trial. To further simulate current hearing aids, participants wore microphones above the pinnae and insert earphones adjusted to provide a linear, zero-gain response.

Results:
Each individual trajectory was recorded with infra-red motion-tracking and analyzed for accuracy, duration, start time, peak velocity, peak velocity time, complexity, reversals, and misorientations. Results across listeners showed a significant increase in peak velocity and significant decrease in start and peak velocity time with greater (10 kHz) bandwidth.

Conclusions:
These earlier, swifter orientations demonstrate spatial benefits beyond static localization accuracy in plausible conditions; extended bandwidth without pinna cues provided more salient cues in a realistic mixture of talkers.

Citation

Whitmer, W. M., McShefferty, D., Levy, S. C., Naylor, G., & Edwards, B. (2022). Changes in Orientation Behavior due to Extended High-Frequency (5 to 10 kHz) Spatial Cues. Ear and Hearing, 43(2), 545-553. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000001113

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 29, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Aug 9, 2021
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Deposit Date: Jul 9, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 9, 2021
• Journal: Ear & Hearing
• Print ISSN: 0196-0202
• Electronic ISSN: 1538-4667
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 43
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 545-553
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000001113
• Keywords: Speech and Hearing; Otorhinolaryngology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5764055
• Publisher URL: https://journals.lww.com/ear-hearing/Fulltext/2022/03000/Changes_in_Orientation_Behavior_due_to_Extended.26.aspx