Effects of training and using an audio-tactile sensory substitution device on speech-in-noise understanding.

ABSTRACT: Understanding speech in background noise is challenging. Wearing face-masks, imposed by the COVID19-pandemics, makes it even harder. We developed a multi-sensory setup, including a sensory substitution device (SSD) that can deliver speech simultaneously through audition and as vibrations on the fingertips. The vibrations correspond to low frequencies extracted from the speech input. We trained two groups of non-native English speakers in understanding distorted speech in noise. After a short session (30-45 min) of repeating sentences, with or without concurrent matching vibrations, we showed comparable mean group improvement of 14-16 dB in Speech Reception Threshold (SRT) in two test conditions, i.e., when the participants were asked to repeat sentences only from hearing and also when matc

SUBMITTER: Ciesla K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8881456 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature