Speech Understanding and Sound Source Localization by Cochlear Implant Listeners Using a Pinna-Effect Imitating Microphone and an Adaptive Beamformer

Dorman, Michael F.; Natale, Sarah Cook; Loiselle, Louise

doi:10.3766/jaaa.16126

Cited by 18 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…By contrast, at the 65-dB noise level, performance was much better for signals presented from the front than from the back. Relative to scores in the 55 dB condition, where the microphones were in omni mode, in 65 dB noise, performance for speech from the front improved by 25% points-a gain similar to that we have reported previously for beamformers in our simulation of a restaurant (Dorman et al, 2018). At the same time, relative to scores in the 55-dB condition, scores for speech from the back decreased by 17% points.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…By reducing signal inputs from off the frontal axis, these systems improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and improve speech understanding in noise. In a previous experiment, using a simulation of a restaurant with a semidiffuse noise field, we found improvements of 20-30% points for patients fit with monaural and bilateral beamformers (Dorman et al, 2018).…”

mentioning

confidence: 79%

“…At that noise level, the algorithm switches to an adaptive beamformer mode. In the semidiffuse noise environment of R-SPACEä the microphone assumes a surpercardiod polar pattern (see Figure 1 in Dorman et al, 2018).…”

Section: Signal Processing Algorithmmentioning

confidence: 99%

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AutoAdaptive: A Noise Level–Sensitive Beamformer for MED EL Cochlear Implant Patients

Dorman

Natale

2019

J Am Acad Audiol

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When cochlear implant (CI) listeners use a directional microphone or beamformer system to improve speech understanding in noise, the gain in understanding for speech presented from the front of the listener coexists with a decrease in speech understanding from the back. One way to maximize the usefulness of these systems is to keep a microphone in the omnidirectional mode in low noise and then switch to directional mode in high noise.The purpose of this experiment was to assess the levels of speech understanding in noise allowed by a new signal processing algorithm for MED EL CIs, AutoAdaptive, which operates in the manner described previously.Seven listeners fit with bilateral CIs were tested in a simulation of a crowded restaurant with speech presented from the front and from the back at three noise levels, 45, 55, and 65 dB SPL.The listeners were seated in the middle of an array of eight loudspeakers. Sentences from the AzBio sentence lists were presented from loudspeakers at 0 or 180° azimuth. Restaurant noise at 45, 55, and 65 dB SPL was presented from all eight loudspeakers. The speech understanding scores (words correct) were subjected to a two-factor (speaker location and noise level), repeated measures, analysis of variance with posttests.The analysis of variance showed a main effect for level and location and a significant interaction. Posttests showed that speech understanding scores from front and back loudspeakers did not differ significantly at the 45- and 55-dB noise levels but did differ significantly at the 65-dB noise level—with increased scores for signals from the front and decreased scores for signals from the back.The AutoAdaptive feature provides omnidirectional benefit at low noise levels, i.e., similar levels of speech understanding for talkers in front of, and in back of, a listener and beamformer benefit at higher noise levels, i.e., increased speech understanding for signals from in front. The automatic switching feature will be of value to the many patients who prefer not to manually switch programs on their CIs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

mentioning

confidence: 79%

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AutoAdaptive: A Noise Level–Sensitive Beamformer for MED EL Cochlear Implant Patients

Dorman

Natale

2019

J Am Acad Audiol

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“…Cochlear implant (CI) users wearing audio processors for which the microphone is placed behind the ear are not able to utilize pinna cues, which may result in poor localization performance. It has been demonstrated that artificial imitation of the pinna effect in the form of frequency-dependent microphone directionality improves speech intelligibility in noise of CI users (Chung et al 2004;Kordus et al 2015;Wimmer et al 2016;Honeder et al 2018;Dorman et al 2018). In contrast, only limited data for the localization performance of bilateral cochlear implant (BiCI) users with pinna imitation algorithms are available.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pinna-Imitating Microphone Directionality Improves Sound Localization and Discrimination in Bilateral Cochlear Implant Users

Fischer

Schmid

Kompis

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Objectives: To compare the sound-source localization, discrimination and tracking performance of bilateral cochlear implant users with omnidirectional (OMNI) and pinna-imitating (PI) microphone directionality modes. Design: Twelve experienced bilateral cochlear implant users participated in the study. Their audio processors were fitted with two different programs featuring either the OMNI or PI mode. Each subject performed static and dynamic sound field spatial hearing tests in the horizontal plane. The static tests consisted of an absolute sound localization test and a minimum audible angle (MAA) test, which was measured at 8 azimuth directions. Dynamic sound tracking ability was evaluated by the subject correctly indicating the direction of a moving stimulus along two circular paths around the subject. Results: PI mode led to statistically significant sound localization and discrimination improvements. For static sound localization, the greatest benefit was a reduction in the number of front-back confusions. The front-back confusion rate was reduced from 47% with OMNI mode to 35% with PI mode (p = 0.03). The ability to discriminate sound sources at the sides was only possible with PI mode. The MAA value for the sides decreased from a 75.5 to a 37.7-degree angle when PI mode was used (p < 0.001). Furthermore, a non-significant trend towards an improvement in the ability to track sound sources was observed for both trajectories tested (p = 0.34 and p = 0.27). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that PI mode can lead to improved spatial hearing performance in bilateral cochlear implant users, mainly as a consequence of improved front-back discrimination with PI mode.

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“…When the SONNET audio processor (MED-EL) was introduced in 2014, it became our audio processor of choice, partly because it has microphone directionality settings designed to improve users' speech understanding in noise and sound localization abilities. And indeed, the SONNET has been shown to improve speech understanding in challenging situations, improve sound quality, and increase user satisfaction [13][14][15][16]. These studies, however, were conducted on CI users (unilateral or bilateral) with bilateral severe-to-profound hearing loss or on CI/EAS (electric acoustic stimulation) users-not, to the best of our knowledge, on a group of CI users with SSD.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The impact of cochlear implant microphone settings on the binaural hearing of experienced cochlear implant users with single-sided deafness

Kurz

Zanzinger

Hagen

et al. 2020

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol

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Objective Cochlear implantation has become a well-accepted treatment option for people with single-sided deafness (SSD) and has become a clinical standard in many countries. A cochlear implant (CI) is the only device which restores binaural hearing. The effect of microphone directionality (MD) settings has been investigated in other CI indication groups, but its impact on speech perception in noise has not been established in CI users with SSD. The focus of this investigation was, therefore, to assess binaural hearing effects using different MD settings in CI users with SSD. Methods Twenty-nine experienced CI users with SSD were recruited to determine speech reception thresholds with varying target and noise sources to define binaural effects (head shadow, squelch, summation, and spatial release from masking), sound localization, and sound quality using the SSQ12 and HISQUI19 questionnaires. Outcome measures included the MD settings “natural”, “adaptive”, and “omnidirectional”. Results The 29 participants involved in the study were divided into two groups: 11 SONNET users and 18 OPUS 2/RONDO users. In both groups, a significant head shadow effect of 7.4–9.2 dB was achieved with the CI. The MD setting “adaptive” provided a significant head shadow effect of 9.2 dB, a squelch effect of 0.9 dB, and spatial release from masking of 7.6 dB in the SONNET group. No significant summation effect could be determined in either group with CI. Outcomes with the omnidirectional setting were not significantly different between groups. For both groups, localization improved significantly when the CI was activated and was best when the omnidirectional setting was used. The groups’ sound quality scores did not significantly differ. Conclusions Adaptive directional microphone settings improve speech perception and binaural hearing abilities in CI users with SSD. Binaural effect measures are valuable to quantify the benefit of CI use, especially in this indication group.

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Speech Understanding and Sound Source Localization by Cochlear Implant Listeners Using a Pinna-Effect Imitating Microphone and an Adaptive Beamformer

Cited by 18 publications

References 19 publications

AutoAdaptive: A Noise Level–Sensitive Beamformer for MED EL Cochlear Implant Patients

AutoAdaptive: A Noise Level–Sensitive Beamformer for MED EL Cochlear Implant Patients

Pinna-Imitating Microphone Directionality Improves Sound Localization and Discrimination in Bilateral Cochlear Implant Users

The impact of cochlear implant microphone settings on the binaural hearing of experienced cochlear implant users with single-sided deafness

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