Practical evaluation for binaural hearing-aid system by using asynchronous stimuli

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23500637
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Sendai National College of Technology
• Principal Investigator: HONGO Satoshi 仙台高等専門学校, 専攻科, 教授 (80271881)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): YAIRI Satoshi 仙台高等専門学校, 専攻科, 准教授 (00447187)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: バイノーラル / 両耳聴補聴器 / マガーク効果 / 視聴覚刺激 / 時間遅れ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In next-generation binaural ear-aid system, the asynchronous between audio signal and visual signal can be significant problem for speech recognition and sense of sound source localization. The aim of this study is to clarify the limit of time delay for processing time of binaural ear-aid system from the point of view of speech recognition rate and sense of sound localization.
We performed the speech recognition tests and movement sound source tests by using human examinee. As a result of this study, we found that it is necessary to reduce the delay time of processing in ear-aid system to 100ms for good Japanese speech recognition. In addition, it was revealed that the influence for recognition rate in the consonant sound is larger than the vowel sound. Furthermore, from the movement sound source test, it became clear that the limit delay time not to feel sense of incongruity is less 100ms when the speed of movement sound source is human walking speed.

Free Research Field

音響信号処理