Perspectives on Hearing and Hearing Disorders: Research and Diagnostics

Coordinator's Column

Schairer, K. — 2009-02-02

Speech Perception in Noise: The Basics

McArdle, R., Wilson, R. H. — 2009-02-02

One of the most common complaints expressed by individuals with hearing loss is difficulty understanding speech when listening in background noise. This review paper highlights the importance of measuring speech recognition in noise and provides a guide to the basics of speech-in-noise testing. Topics included in this review paper along with relevant research findings are (a) discussion regarding the two components of hearing loss and their relation to understanding speech, (b) speech-recognition performance in quiet and in background noise, and (c) speech-in-noise testing methodology to include type of paradigm, type of noise, and type of stimulus.

A Review of the Effects of Bilingualism on Speech Recognition Performance

Carlo, M. A. — 2009-02-02

The growth of the Hispanic population in the United States is resulting in a higher number of bilingual patients seen in audiology clinics. Clinicians should be aware of the effects of bilingualism on speech audiometry measures in order to provide services that are sensitive to the specific needs of the bilingual population. Bilingual listeners have been shown to have speech recognition disadvantages when listening in their second language under degraded listening environments. The effects of bilingualism on speech recognition performance in the first language are still under investigation.

Effects of Noise on Bilingual Listeners' First Language (L1) Speech Perception

von Hapsburg, D., Bahng, J. — 2009-02-02

The purpose of this study was to determine how noise influences first language (L1) speech perception in noise in bilingual listeners with varying second language (L2) proficiency. The Korean Speech Perception in Noise (KSPIN) test was administered in three signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions to two groups of Korean-English bilingual listeners with moderate and low proficiency in English. All bilingual participants acquired the L2 and arrived in the United States after puberty. Special efforts were made to recruit homogenous bilingual groups. The results indicated that speech perception in noise in L1 for bilingual listeners with higher L2 proficiency was affected more in the most negative SNR conditions in comparison to bilingual listeners with less L2 proficiency. This study demonstrated that adult bilingual listeners experience more difficulty processing L1 in noise as L2 proficiency increases.