title: Modulation masking release using the Brazilian-Portuguese HINT: psychometric functions and the effect of speech time compression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Brazilian-Portuguese hearing in noise test (HINT) was used to investigate the benefit to speech recognition of listening in a fluctuating background. The goal was to determine whether modulation masking release varied as a function of the speech-to-masker ratio at threshold. Speech-to-masker ratio at threshold was manipulated using the novel approach of adjusting the time-compression of the speech.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experiment 1 measured performance-intensity functions in both a steady speech-shaped noise masker and a 10-Hz square-wave modulated masker. Experiment 2 measured speech-to-masker ratios at threshold as a function of time-compression of the speech (0, 33, and 50%) in both maskers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were normal-hearing adults who were native speakers of Brazilian Portuguese (Experiment 1: N = 10; Experiment 2: N = 30).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The slope of the performance-intensity function was shallower in the modulated masker than in the steady masker for both words and sentences. Thresholds increased with increasing time-compression in both maskers, but more markedly in the modulated masker, resulting in reduced modulation masking release with increasing time-compression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Speech-to-masker ratio at threshold varies with time-compression of speech. The results are relevant to the issue of whether degree of masker modulation benefit depends on speech-to-masker ratio at threshold.
authors: * Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , USA.
authors: John H
authors: JH
authors: Grose
authors: Silvana
authors: S
authors: Griz
authors: Fernando A
authors: FA
authors: Pacífico
authors: Karina P
authors: KP
authors: Advíncula
authors: Denise C
authors: DC
authors: Menezes
mesh_terms: D001302:Audiometry, Speech / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D001307:Auditory Perception; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010470:Perceptual Masking / Q000502:physiology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D013065:Speech Intelligibility / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Modulation masking release; psychometric function; speech recognition; time compression
references: J Am Acad Audiol. 2008 Jun;19(6):496-506
references: 19253782
references: J Acoust Soc Am. 2009 Jul;126(1):269-80
references: 19603883
references: Ear Hear. 2009 Oct;30(5):568-75
references: 19633565
references: J Acoust Soc Am. 2010 Jul;128(1):342-59
references: 20649229
references: Int J Audiol. 2011 Jan;50(1):2-13
references: 21091261
references: Ear Hear. 2011 Feb;32(1):121-31
references: 20628303
references: J Acoust Soc Am. 2011 Jul;130(1):473-88
references: 21786913
references: J Acoust Soc Am. 2012 Sep;132(3):1655-66
references: 22978894
references: J Acoust Soc Am. 2012 Oct;132(4):2676-89
references: 23039460
references: J Acoust Soc Am. 2013 May;133(5):3004-15
references: 23654404
references: J Acoust Soc Am. 2014 Mar;135(3):1335-43
references: 24606272
references: Ear Hear. 2015 Mar-Apr;36(2):e14-22
references: 25329373
references: J Acoust Soc Am. 2009 May;125(5):3358-72
references: 19425676
references: J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2001 Aug;44(4):709-19
references: 11521766
references: J Acoust Soc Am. 2003 Apr;113(4 Pt 1):2084-94
references: 12703719
references: J Acoust Soc Am. 1971 Oct;50(4):1204-7
references: 5117650
references: J Acoust Soc Am. 1988 Jul;84(1):101-14
references: 3411038
references: J Acoust Soc Am. 1990 Oct;88(4):1725-36
references: 2262629
references: Percept Psychophys. 1992 Mar;51(3):247-56
references: 1561050
references: J Acoust Soc Am. 1994 Jan;95(1):518-29
references: 8120263
references: Ear Hear. 1996 Dec;17(6):478-89
references: 8979036
references: J Acoust Soc Am. 1998 Jan;103(1):577-87
references: 9440343
references: Auris Nasus Larynx. 1999 Jan;26(1):17-27
references: 10077252
references: Hear Res. 2006 Jan;211(1-2):74-84
references: 16289579
references: J Acoust Soc Am. 2006 May;119(5 Pt 1):3097-108
references: 16708964
references: Int J Audiol. 2006 Sep;45(9):487-95
references: 17005491
references: J Acoust Soc Am. 2006 Oct;120(4):2295-311
references: 17069325
references: J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2007 Oct;50(5):1123-38
references: 17905900
references: Hear Res. 2008 May;239(1-2):60-8
references: 18434049
references: Int J Audiol. 2008 Jun;47(6):356-61
references: 18569108
references: Int J Audiol. 2008 Jun;47(6):364-5
references: 18569110
references: J Acoust Soc Am. 2009 Jan;125(1):457-68
references: 19173431