Humans spend a majority of their time in auditory environments that are complex and reverberant. An important and ongoing task for the auditory system is the segregation of target signals from interfering sounds and the suppression of echoes. The binaural system is known to be important in accomplishing these goals. The proposed research will investigate directional hearing in multi-source and reverberant acoustic environments. We will study sound localization, suppression of echoes, and speech intelligibility, in human adults with normal hearing, and with bilaterally-implanted cochlear implant users.
Aim 1 will investigate the precedence effect (PE) using more everyday paradigms than those previously employed, with speech stimuli and multiple-echo patterns that vary in number, directional properties, intensity and spectral content.
In Aim 2 we will investigate the impact of these echo patterns on speech intelligibility in the presence of competing sounds whose content and spatial locations and will be varied. We will test the hypothesis that """"""""informational masking"""""""" can be induced when listeners experience uncertainty regarding the number, content and locations of competing sounds.
In Aim 3 we will study binaural mechanisms in bilateral CI users through specialized hardware that controls the binaural synchronization between the two ears. Studies will measure localization, echo suppression, speech in intelligibility in complex acoustic environments, and basic binaural processes. This research addressed fundamental issues concerning the ability of humans to function in everyday listening situations. Problems in such environments are commonly reported by hearing impaired individuals. Studies in Aim 3 might contribute to the future design of hearing aids and cochlear implants that take advantage of binaural cues and compensate for the degradation of functioning in noisy and reverberant environments. ? ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DC003083-08
Application #
6984070
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IFCN-4 (92))
Program Officer
Donahue, Amy
Project Start
1998-05-01
Project End
2008-11-30
Budget Start
2005-12-01
Budget End
2006-11-30
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$440,650
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
Goupell, Matthew J; Stoelb, Corey A; Kan, Alan et al. (2018) The Effect of Simulated Interaural Frequency Mismatch on Speech Understanding and Spatial Release From Masking. Ear Hear 39:895-905
Thakkar, Tanvi; Kan, Alan; Jones, Heath G et al. (2018) Mixed stimulation rates to improve sensitivity of interaural timing differences in bilateral cochlear implant listeners. J Acoust Soc Am 143:1428
Kan, Alan (2018) Improving Speech Recognition in Bilateral Cochlear Implant Users by Listening With the Better Ear. Trends Hear 22:2331216518772963
Litovsky, Ruth Y; Moua, Keng; Godar, Shelly et al. (2018) Restoration of spatial hearing in adult cochlear implant users with single-sided deafness. Hear Res :
Todd, Ann E; Goupell, Matthew J; Litovsky, Ruth Y (2017) The Relationship Between Intensity Coding and Binaural Sensitivity in Adults With Cochlear Implants. Ear Hear 38:e128-e141
Zheng, Yi; EscabĂ­, Monty; Litovsky, Ruth Y (2017) Spectro-temporal cues enhance modulation sensitivity in cochlear implant users. Hear Res 351:45-54
Litovsky, Ruth Y; Goupell, Matthew J; Kan, Alan et al. (2017) Use of Research Interfaces for Psychophysical Studies With Cochlear-Implant Users. Trends Hear 21:2331216517736464
Reidy, Patrick F; Kristensen, Kayla; Winn, Matthew B et al. (2017) The Acoustics of Word-Initial Fricatives and Their Effect on Word-Level Intelligibility in Children With Bilateral Cochlear Implants. Ear Hear 38:42-56
Goupell, Matthew J; Kan, Alan; Litovsky, Ruth Y (2016) Spatial attention in bilateral cochlear-implant users. J Acoust Soc Am 140:1652
Ehlers, Erica; Kan, Alan; Winn, Matthew B et al. (2016) Binaural hearing in children using Gaussian enveloped and transposed tones. J Acoust Soc Am 139:1724

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