SICONA: the development of signal conditioning communication aids for the severely hearing impaired.
Project SICONA endeavours to satisfy the specific needs of the severely hearing impaired. A complex system is introduced, consisting of several speech processing modules to achieve an improvement of the communication ability within the target group. The basic methods are improving the S/N-ratio by multichannel wireless FM transmission, enhancing weak consonants and second formant information and transposing the unvoiced fricative /s/ into the residual hearing area. Single case studies indicate the effectiveness of the proposed methods; improved reception of speech features within the F2 range and successful integration of the replacement /s/ could be shown. Practical useability is achieved by introducing wireless coupling between the miniaturized (SMD technology, ASIC) system components.
Bauer
D
D
Institute for Occupational Health, Dortmund, Germany.
Röckmann
D
D
van Son
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N
D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*