title: Measuring the acoustic effects of compression amplification on speech in noise.
abstract: This letter contains a description of an inversion technique that allows for separation of speech and noise and its application to quantifying the acoustic effects of wide-dynamic-range compression (WDRC) on speech in background noise. Three main findings are reported: that fast-acting WDRC further degrades signal-to-noise ratio; that the effective compression ratio is lower for speech in noise than speech in quiet; and that in contrast to speech in quiet, the amplitude envelope of speech is mostly unaffected when compressed in background noise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA.
authors.forename: Pamela E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Lorienne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Jenstad
authors.forename: Kumiko T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Boike
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009622:Noise; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*