Application of Ideal Binary Masking to Disordered Speech

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Dysarthria and hearing loss are communication disorders that can substantially reduce intelligibility of speech and the addition of background noise adds a further challenge. This proposal utilizes an established signal processing technique, currently exploited for improved understanding of speech in noise for listeners with hearing loss, to investigate its potential application to overcome speech-in-noise difficulties for listeners understanding dysarthric speech. Successful completion of this project will demonstrate proof-of-concept for the application of this signal processing technique to dysarthric speech in noise, and inform the development of an R01 proposal to perform a large-scale evaluation of the technology, and clinically meaningful implications, in a broad range of disordered speech types and severities.

Official Title
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Application of Ideal Binary Masking to Disordered Speech

Conditions
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Hearing Loss, Sensorineural, Dysarthria

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Ideal binary mask


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria:INCLUSION CRITERIA for All Participants Native speakers of American English No history of speech or language impairment No significant prior contact with persons having neurogenic speech disorders INCLUSION CRITERIA for Participants with Normal Hearing 18 to 70 years of age Auditory thresholds of 20 dB HL or better bilaterally at octave frequencies from 250-8000 Hz (if under 55 years of age) Auditory thresholds of 25 dB HL or better bilaterally at octave frequencies from 250-4000 Hz (if over 55 years of age) INCLUSION CRITERIA for Participants with Sensorineural Hearing Loss 18 to 70 years of age Exclusion Criteria: EXCLUSION CRITERIA for All Participants Mild or profound hearing loss Conductive or mixed hearing loss Asymmetric hearing loss Obvious concomitant cognitive or mental impairment Unable to achieve upward of 20% words correct

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Normal Hearing<br>Listeners with normal hearing | Behavioral: Ideal binary mask<br>* Speech in noise processed by ideal binary mask to reduce background noise<br>|
| Experimental: Hearing Impaired<br>Listeners with hearing loss | Behavioral: Ideal binary mask<br>* Speech in noise processed by ideal binary mask to reduce background noise<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Percent correct speech intelligibility | Percent of keywords correctly identified by the participant for the unprocessed and processed speech stimuli | One hour |