Evaluation of array-processing algorithms for a headband hearing aid.
Several array-processing algorithms were implemented and evaluated with experienced hearing-aid users. The array consisted of four directional microphones mounted broadside on a headband worn on the top of the listener's head. The algorithms included two adaptive array-processing algorithms, one fixed array-processing algorithm, and a reference condition consisting of binaural directional microphones. The algorithms were evaluated under conditions with both one and three independent noise sources. Performance metrics included quantitative speech reception thresholds and qualitative subject preference ratings for ease-of-listening measured using a paired-comparison procedure. On average, the fixed algorithm improved speech reception thresholds by 2 dB, while the adaptive algorithms provided 7-9-dB improvement over the reference condition. Subjects judging ease-of-listening generally preferred all array-processing algorithms over the reference condition. The results suggest that these adaptive algorithms should be evaluated further in more realistic acoustic environments.
Greenberg
Julie E
JE
Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA. jgreenbe@mit.edu
Desloge
Joseph G
JG
Zurek
Patrick M
PM
D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013017:Sound Localization; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013067:Speech Perception; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test