Measures of temporal acuity have been shown to correlate strongly with speech perception tests, but rather weakly with the pure-tone audiogram. Temporal acuity measures are therefore a promising tool as a speech- performance-predicting index to supplement the audiogram. The purpose of this research is to evaluate two measures of temporal acuity, temporal gap detection and temporal onset simultaneity. These two measures fulfill many of the criteria that are desirable in achieving a clinical tool to supplement the audiogram. Gap detection and onset simultaneity thresholds will be measured to (1) resolve procedural issues that remain for simple stimuli, (2) evaluate a range of conditions of speech-like stimulus complexity and listener uncertainty, and (3) provide data for computer models of temporal acuity processes and deficits. The computer models will aid us in dissociating the confounding roles of audibility and frequency selectivity deficits from the temporal acuity deficits of hearing-impaired listeners. Normal-hearing listeners and groups of hearing-impaired listeners with similar audiograms, but dissimilar speech discrimination scores, will provide temporal acuity data. These psychoacoustic and modeling results will ultimately guide the development of an audiometric tool to aid the clinician in predicting and compensating for a wide range of speech perception deficits among patients who exhibit similar audiograms.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
7R01DC000951-03
Application #
2126143
Study Section
Hearing Research Study Section (HAR)
Project Start
1992-09-01
Project End
1996-08-31
Budget Start
1994-09-01
Budget End
1996-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1994
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Maryland Baltimore
Department
Surgery
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
003255213
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21201
Heinz, M G; Formby, C (1999) Detection of time- and bandlimited increments and decrements in a random-level noise. J Acoust Soc Am 106:313-26
Formby, C; Gerber, M J; Sherlock, L P et al. (1998) Evidence for an across-frequency, between-channel process in asymptotic monaural temporal gap detection. J Acoust Soc Am 103:3554-60
Formby, C; Sherlock, L P; Li, S (1998) Temporal gap detection measured with multiple sinusoidal markers: effects of marker number, frequency, and temporal position. J Acoust Soc Am 104:984-98
Formby, C; Childers, D G; Lalwani, A L (1996) Labelling and discrimination of a synthetic fricative continuum in noise: a study of absolute duration and relative onset time cues. J Speech Hear Res 39:4-18
Formby, C; Sherlock, L P; Green, D M (1996) Evaluation of a maximum likelihood procedure for measuring pure-tone thresholds under computer control. J Am Acad Audiol 7:125-9
Formby, C; Heinz, M G; Luna, C E et al. (1994) Masked detection thresholds and temporal integration for noise band signals. J Acoust Soc Am 96:102-14