Listeners’ Spectral Reallocation Preferences for Speech in Noise
Modifying the spectrum of recorded or synthetic speech is an effective strategy for boosting intelligibility in noise without increasing the speech level. However, the wider impact of changes to the spectral energy distribution of speech is poorly understood. The present study explored the influence...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/15/8734 |
| _version_ | 1797587097271402496 |
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| author | Olympia Simantiraki Martin Cooke |
| author_facet | Olympia Simantiraki Martin Cooke |
| author_sort | Olympia Simantiraki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Modifying the spectrum of recorded or synthetic speech is an effective strategy for boosting intelligibility in noise without increasing the speech level. However, the wider impact of changes to the spectral energy distribution of speech is poorly understood. The present study explored the influence of spectral modifications using an experimental paradigm in which listeners were able to adjust speech parameters directly with real-time audio feedback, allowing the joint elicitation of preferences and word recognition scores. In two experiments involving full-bandwidth and bandwidth-limited speech, respectively, listeners adjusted one of eight features that altered the speech spectrum, and then immediately carried out a sentence-in-noise recognition task at the chosen setting. Listeners’ preferred adjustments in most conditions involved the transfer of speech energy from the sub-1 kHz region to the 1–4 kHz range. Preferences were not random, even when intelligibility was at the ceiling or constant across a range of adjustment values, suggesting that listener choices encompass more than a desire to maintain comprehensibility. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:32:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8e0f9a74166a416d977078c0c83075e6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:32:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-8e0f9a74166a416d977078c0c83075e62023-11-18T22:36:50ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-07-011315873410.3390/app13158734Listeners’ Spectral Reallocation Preferences for Speech in NoiseOlympia Simantiraki0Martin Cooke1Language and Speech Laboratory, University of the Basque Country, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, SpainIkerbasque (Basque Science Foundation), 48009 Bilbao, SpainModifying the spectrum of recorded or synthetic speech is an effective strategy for boosting intelligibility in noise without increasing the speech level. However, the wider impact of changes to the spectral energy distribution of speech is poorly understood. The present study explored the influence of spectral modifications using an experimental paradigm in which listeners were able to adjust speech parameters directly with real-time audio feedback, allowing the joint elicitation of preferences and word recognition scores. In two experiments involving full-bandwidth and bandwidth-limited speech, respectively, listeners adjusted one of eight features that altered the speech spectrum, and then immediately carried out a sentence-in-noise recognition task at the chosen setting. Listeners’ preferred adjustments in most conditions involved the transfer of speech energy from the sub-1 kHz region to the 1–4 kHz range. Preferences were not random, even when intelligibility was at the ceiling or constant across a range of adjustment values, suggesting that listener choices encompass more than a desire to maintain comprehensibility.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/15/8734listener preferencesspectral energy reallocationglimpses profile |
| spellingShingle | Olympia Simantiraki Martin Cooke Listeners’ Spectral Reallocation Preferences for Speech in Noise Applied Sciences listener preferences spectral energy reallocation glimpses profile |
| title | Listeners’ Spectral Reallocation Preferences for Speech in Noise |
| title_full | Listeners’ Spectral Reallocation Preferences for Speech in Noise |
| title_fullStr | Listeners’ Spectral Reallocation Preferences for Speech in Noise |
| title_full_unstemmed | Listeners’ Spectral Reallocation Preferences for Speech in Noise |
| title_short | Listeners’ Spectral Reallocation Preferences for Speech in Noise |
| title_sort | listeners spectral reallocation preferences for speech in noise |
| topic | listener preferences spectral energy reallocation glimpses profile |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/15/8734 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT olympiasimantiraki listenersspectralreallocationpreferencesforspeechinnoise AT martincooke listenersspectralreallocationpreferencesforspeechinnoise |