title: An evaluation of the performance of two binaural beamformers in complex and dynamic multitalker environments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Binaural beamformers are super-directional hearing aids created by combining microphone outputs from each side of the head. While they offer substantial improvements in SNR over conventional directional hearing aids, the benefits (and possible limitations) of these devices in realistic, complex listening situations have not yet been fully explored. In this study we evaluated the performance of two experimental binaural beamformers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Testing was carried out using a horizontal loudspeaker array. Background noise was created using recorded conversations. Performance measures included speech intelligibility, localization in noise, acceptable noise level, subjective ratings, and a novel dynamic speech intelligibility measure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 27 listeners with bilateral hearing loss, fitted with BTE prototypes that could be switched between conventional directional or binaural beamformer microphone modes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative to the conventional directional microphones, both binaural beamformer modes were generally superior for tasks involving fixed frontal targets, but not always for situations involving dynamic target locations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Binaural beamformers show promise for enhancing listening in complex situations when the location of the source of interest is predictable.
authors.affiliation: a * National Acoustic Laboratories, Australian Hearing Hub, Macquarie University , Australia.|b Department of Speech , Language and Hearing Sciences, Boston University , Boston , USA.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Best
authors.affiliation: a * National Acoustic Laboratories, Australian Hearing Hub, Macquarie University , Australia.|c The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre , Carlton , Australia.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mejia
authors.affiliation: a * National Acoustic Laboratories, Australian Hearing Hub, Macquarie University , Australia.
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Freeston
authors.affiliation: c The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre , Carlton , Australia.|d The University of Melbourne , Parkville , Australia.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Hoesel
authors.affiliation: a * National Acoustic Laboratories, Australian Hearing Hub, Macquarie University , Australia.|c The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre , Carlton , Australia.
authors.forename: Harvey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dillon
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000162:Acoustics; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001302:Audiometry, Speech; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D004777:Environment; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013017:Sound Localization; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013067:Speech Perception; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Binaural beamformers; directional hearing aids; dynamic environments