Objective: This article describes the initial development of a novel approach for training hearing-impaired
listeners to improve their ability to understand speech in the presence of background
noise and to also improve their ability to localize sounds.
Design: Most people with hearing loss, even those well fit with hearing devices, still experience
significant problems understanding speech in noise. Prior research suggests that at
least some subjects can experience improved speech understanding with training. However,
all training systems that we are aware of have one basic, critical limitation. They
do not provide spatial separation of the speech and noise, therefore ignoring the
potential benefits of training binaural hearing. In this paper we describe our initial
experience with a home-based training system that includes spatially separated speech-in-noise
and localization training.
Results: Throughout the development of this system patient input, training and preliminary
pilot data from individuals with bilateral cochlear implants were utilized. Positive
feedback from subjective reports indicated that some individuals were engaged in the
treatment, and formal testing showed benefit. Feedback and practical issues resulted
from the reduction of an eight-loudspeaker to a two-loudspeaker system.
Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest we have successfully developed a viable spatial
hearing training system that can improve binaural hearing in noise and localization.
Applications include, but are not limited to, hearing with hearing aids and cochlear
implants.
Key Words
Aural rehabilitation - binaural hearing - cochlear implants - hearing aids - localization
- spatial hearing - spatial training - speech-in-noise
