Elaine Hoi Ning Ng1, Mary Rudner, Thomas Lunner, Jerker Rönnberg. 1. 1Linnaeus Centre HEAD, Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; 2Eriksholm Research Centre, Oticon A/S, Snekkersten, Denmark; and 3Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: A hearing aid noise reduction (NR) algorithm reduces the adverse effect of competing speech on memory for target speech for individuals with hearing impairment with high working memory capacity. In the present study, we investigated whether the positive effect of NR could be extended to individuals with low working memory capacity, as well as how NR influences recall performance for target native speech when the masker language is non-native. DESIGN: A sentence-final word identification and recall (SWIR) test was administered to 26 experienced hearing aid users. In this test, target spoken native language (Swedish) sentence lists were presented in competing native (Swedish) or foreign (Cantonese) speech with or without binary masking NR algorithm. After each sentence list, free recall of sentence final words was prompted. Working memory capacity was measured using a reading span (RS) test. RESULTS: Recall performance was associated with RS. However, the benefit obtained from NR was not associated with RS. Recall performance was more disrupted by native than foreign speech babble and NR improved recall performance in native but not foreign competing speech. CONCLUSIONS: Noise reduction improved memory for speech heard in competing speech for hearing aid users. Memory for native speech was more disrupted by native babble than foreign babble, but the disruptive effect of native speech babble was reduced to that of foreign babble when there was NR.
OBJECTIVES: A hearing aid noise reduction (NR) algorithm reduces the adverse effect of competing speech on memory for target speech for individuals with hearing impairment with high working memory capacity. In the present study, we investigated whether the positive effect of NR could be extended to individuals with low working memory capacity, as well as how NR influences recall performance for target native speech when the masker language is non-native. DESIGN: A sentence-final word identification and recall (SWIR) test was administered to 26 experienced hearing aid users. In this test, target spoken native language (Swedish) sentence lists were presented in competing native (Swedish) or foreign (Cantonese) speech with or without binary masking NR algorithm. After each sentence list, free recall of sentence final words was prompted. Working memory capacity was measured using a reading span (RS) test. RESULTS:Recall performance was associated with RS. However, the benefit obtained from NR was not associated with RS. Recall performance was more disrupted by native than foreign speech babble and NR improved recall performance in native but not foreign competing speech. CONCLUSIONS: Noise reduction improved memory for speech heard in competing speech for hearing aid users. Memory for native speech was more disrupted by native babble than foreign babble, but the disruptive effect of native speech babble was reduced to that of foreign babble when there was NR.
Authors: Jerker Rönnberg; Thomas Lunner; Elaine Hoi Ning Ng; Björn Lidestam; Adriana Agatha Zekveld; Patrik Sörqvist; Björn Lyxell; Ulf Träff; Wycliffe Yumba; Elisabet Classon; Mathias Hällgren; Birgitta Larsby; Carine Signoret; M Kathleen Pichora-Fuller; Mary Rudner; Henrik Danielsson; Stefan Stenfelt Journal: Int J Audiol Date: 2016-09-02 Impact factor: 2.117