A Study of Perceptual Effects of Spectral Sharpening on the Hearing-impaired

• Main Authors: Tsai, Pei-Chun, 蔡佩均
• Other Authors: Chi, Tai-Shih
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/27528369661509560092

碩士 === 國立交通大學 === 工學院聲音與音樂創意科技碩士學位學程 === 103 === The previously developed hearing model for the hearing-impaired was not validated on actual patients. In this thesis, we collaborate with Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital to measure the broaden factor of each cochlear filter of hearing-impaired patients. The broaden factor combined with the hearing threshold and the degree of loudness recruitment establish the personalized hearing-impaired model. Mandarin intelligibility scores of each patient to normal speech are assessed and compared to the intelligibility scores of normal-hearing subjects to speech processed by the corresponding personalized hearing-impaired model. Comparable scores successfully validate our hearing-impaired model in predicting Mandarin intelligibility scores of patients. Algorithms in modern hearing aids are often developed to enhance speech perception, while inevitably deteriorating music perception by adding or subtracting frequency components. By examining the signals through the hearing-impaired model, we postulate that music heard by the hearing-impaired is blurred due to their broaden auditory filters. To compensate the broaden effect, we sharpen the spectrum of music to enhance music quality for the hearing impaired. Different styles of music clips are used to demonstrate that sharpening the spectrum does raise music quality scores of the hearing-impaired.