Working memory and hearing aid processing: Literature findings, future directions, and clinical applications
Working memory—the ability to process and store information—has been identified as an important aspect of speech perception in difficult listening environments. Working memory can be envisioned as a limited-capacity system which is engaged when an input signal cannot be readily matched to a stored...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2015-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01894/full |
| _version_ | 1818826196036616192 |
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| author | Pamela eSouza Kathryn eArehart Tobias eNeher |
| author_facet | Pamela eSouza Kathryn eArehart Tobias eNeher |
| author_sort | Pamela eSouza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Working memory—the ability to process and store information—has been identified as an important aspect of speech perception in difficult listening environments. Working memory can be envisioned as a limited-capacity system which is engaged when an input signal cannot be readily matched to a stored representation or template. This mismatch is expected to occur more frequently when the signal is degraded. Because working memory capacity varies among individuals, those with smaller capacity are expected to demonstrate poorer speech understanding when speech is degraded, such as in background noise. However, it is less clear whether (and how) working memory should influence practical decisions, such as hearing treatment. Here, we consider the relationship between working memory capacity and response to specific hearing aid processing strategies. Three types of signal processing are considered, each of which will alter the acoustic signal: fast-acting wide-dynamic range compression, which smooths the amplitude envelope of the input signal; digital noise reduction, which may inadvertently remove speech signal components as it suppresses noise; and frequency compression, which alters the relationship between spectral peaks. For fast-acting wide-dynamic range compression, a growing body of data suggests that individuals with smaller working memory capacity may be more susceptible to such signal alterations, and may receive greater amplification benefit with low alteration processing. While the evidence for a relationship between wide-dynamic range compression and working memory appears robust, the effects of working memory on perceptual response to other forms of hearing aid signal processing are less clear cut. We conclude our review with a discussion of the opportunities (and challenges) in translating information on individual working memory into clinical treatment, including clinically-feasible measures of working memory. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T00:23:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0c4d5849e6414845a00b7ae0f5494b1a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T00:23:49Z |
| publishDate | 2015-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-0c4d5849e6414845a00b7ae0f5494b1a2022-12-21T20:45:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782015-12-01610.3389/fpsyg.2015.01894172029Working memory and hearing aid processing: Literature findings, future directions, and clinical applicationsPamela eSouza0Kathryn eArehart1Tobias eNeher2Northwestern UniversityUniversity of ColoradoOldenburg UniversityWorking memory—the ability to process and store information—has been identified as an important aspect of speech perception in difficult listening environments. Working memory can be envisioned as a limited-capacity system which is engaged when an input signal cannot be readily matched to a stored representation or template. This mismatch is expected to occur more frequently when the signal is degraded. Because working memory capacity varies among individuals, those with smaller capacity are expected to demonstrate poorer speech understanding when speech is degraded, such as in background noise. However, it is less clear whether (and how) working memory should influence practical decisions, such as hearing treatment. Here, we consider the relationship between working memory capacity and response to specific hearing aid processing strategies. Three types of signal processing are considered, each of which will alter the acoustic signal: fast-acting wide-dynamic range compression, which smooths the amplitude envelope of the input signal; digital noise reduction, which may inadvertently remove speech signal components as it suppresses noise; and frequency compression, which alters the relationship between spectral peaks. For fast-acting wide-dynamic range compression, a growing body of data suggests that individuals with smaller working memory capacity may be more susceptible to such signal alterations, and may receive greater amplification benefit with low alteration processing. While the evidence for a relationship between wide-dynamic range compression and working memory appears robust, the effects of working memory on perceptual response to other forms of hearing aid signal processing are less clear cut. We conclude our review with a discussion of the opportunities (and challenges) in translating information on individual working memory into clinical treatment, including clinically-feasible measures of working memory.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01894/fullhearing aidworking memory capacityreading spanFrequency compressionwide-dynamic range compressiondigital noise reduction |
| spellingShingle | Pamela eSouza Kathryn eArehart Tobias eNeher Working memory and hearing aid processing: Literature findings, future directions, and clinical applications Frontiers in Psychology hearing aid working memory capacity reading span Frequency compression wide-dynamic range compression digital noise reduction |
| title | Working memory and hearing aid processing: Literature findings, future directions, and clinical applications |
| title_full | Working memory and hearing aid processing: Literature findings, future directions, and clinical applications |
| title_fullStr | Working memory and hearing aid processing: Literature findings, future directions, and clinical applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Working memory and hearing aid processing: Literature findings, future directions, and clinical applications |
| title_short | Working memory and hearing aid processing: Literature findings, future directions, and clinical applications |
| title_sort | working memory and hearing aid processing literature findings future directions and clinical applications |
| topic | hearing aid working memory capacity reading span Frequency compression wide-dynamic range compression digital noise reduction |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01894/full |
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