Speech recognition interference by the temporal and spectral properties of a single competing talker.

This study investigated how speech recognition during speech-on-speech masking may be impaired due to the interaction between amplitude modulations of the target and competing talker. Young normal-hearing adults were tested in a competing talker paradigm where the target and/or competing talker was processed to primarily preserve amplitude modulation cues. Effects of talker sex and linguistic interference were also examined. Results suggest that performance patterns for natural speech-on-speech conditions are largely consistent with the same masking patterns observed for signals primarily limited to temporal amplitude modulations. However, results also suggest a role for spectral cues in talker segregation and linguistic competition.