The importance of interaural time differences and level differences in spatial release from masking.
Numerous studies have described improvements in speech understanding when interaural time differences (ITDs) and interaural level differences (ILDs) are present. The present study aimed to investigate whether either cue in isolation can elicit spatial release from masking (SRM) in a speech-on-speech masking paradigm with maskers positioned symmetrically around the listener. Twelve adults were tested using three presentations of the Listening in Spatialized Noise-Sentences Test, with each presentation modified to contain different interaural cues in the stimuli. Results suggest that ILDs provide a similar amount of SRM as ITDs and ILDs combined. ITDs alone provide significantly less benefit.
The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre, 550 Swanston Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia. helen.glyde@nal.gov.au
Helen
H
Glyde
Jörg M
JM
Buchholz
Harvey
H
Dillon
Sharon
S
Cameron
Louise
L
Hickson
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000162:Acoustics; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001302:Audiometry, Speech; D032882:Comprehension; D003463:Cues; D004423:Ear / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013067:Speech Perception; D013997:Time Factors; D013998:Time Perception; D055815:Young Adult