Preserving Spectral Contrast in Amplitude Compression for Hearing Aids

Abstract

Amplitude compression processing is used to reduce the amplitude level variations of speech to fit the reduced dynamic ranges of sensorineural impaired listeners. However this processing results in spectral smearing due in part to reduced peak-to-valley ratios. Presented here are two variations of a compression processing algorithm based on a sinusoidal speech model that preserves the important spectral peaks. Both models operate on a time-varying, frequency- dependent basis to adjust to the speech variations and the listener's hearing profile. Preliminary subject tests indicate benefit from preserving spectral contrast. Enhancing spectral contrast is possible with the algorithm presented here.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 25, 2001
Accession Number
ADA409985

Entities

People

  • Janet C. Rutledge
  • Juan C. Tejero-calado
  • Peggy B. Nelson

Organizations

  • University of Maryland, Baltimore

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Algorithms
  • Amplitude
  • Background Noise
  • Communication Disorders
  • Compression
  • Consonants
  • Contrast
  • Discontinuities
  • Dynamic Range
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Bands
  • Hearing Disorders
  • Hearing Loss
  • Noise
  • Signal Processing
  • Spectra

Readers

  • Auditory Neuroscience/Auditory Physiology.
  • Computer Vision.
  • Spectroscopy.