Effect of companding on speech recognition in quiet and noise for listeners with ANSD.
OBJECTIVE
The present study assesses the effect of companding on speech perception in quiet and noise for listeners with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD).


METHODS
Speech perception was assessed using speech reception threshold in noise (SRTn) for sentences and consonant identification in quiet and at different signal-to-noise ratios (15, 10, 5, and 0 dB SNR).


METHODS
Ten ANSD listeners and normal-hearing listeners participated in the study.


RESULTS
ANSD listeners required significantly higher SRTn when compared to the normal-hearing listeners. Companding reduced SRTn more significantly in listeners with ANSD, but for normal-hearing listeners there was only a marginal reduction. In the consonant identification task, ANSD listeners performed poorer than normal-hearing listeners in quiet and noise. Companding improved consonant identification in quiet and at 15 dB SNR for listeners with ANSD, whereas no improvement was observed in normal-hearing listeners.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of the present study demonstrate that companding improved speech perception in quiet and noise for ANSD listeners. The amount of improvement is higher at higher SNRs. In normal-hearing listeners, companding showed marginal improvement in both quiet and noise. The findings are discussed for rehabilitation of ANSD listeners by hearing aids which incorporate the companding strategy.
* Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing , Manasagangothri, Mysore , India.
Vijaya Kumar
VK
Narne
Animesh
A
Barman
M
M
Deepthi
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006313:Hearing Loss, Central / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011571:Psychoacoustics; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013067:Speech Perception; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult