Explaining intelligibility in speech-modulated maskers using acoustic glimpse analysis

J Acoust Soc Am. 2018 Jun;143(6):EL449. doi: 10.1121/1.5041466.

Abstract

Intelligibility was measured in speech-modulated noise varying in level and temporal modulation rate (TMR). Acoustic analysis measured glimpses available above a local signal-to-noise ratio criterion (LC). The proportion and rate of glimpses were correlated with intelligibility, particularly in relation to masker level or TMR manipulations, respectively. Intelligibility correlations for each metric were maximized at different analysis LCs. Regression analysis showed that both metrics measured at -2 dB LC were required to best explain the total variance (R2 = 0.49) for individual sentence intelligibility. Acoustic conditions associated with recognizing speech in complex maskers are best explained using multidimensional glimpse metrics.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Adult
  • Audiometry, Speech
  • Humans
  • Noise / adverse effects*
  • Perceptual Masking*
  • Recognition, Psychology
  • Speech Intelligibility*
  • Speech Perception*
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult