Amplification of interaural level differences improves sound localization in acoustic simulations of bimodal hearing.

Abstract

Users of a cochlear implant and contralateral hearing aid are sensitive to interaural level differences (ILDs). However, when using their clinical devices, most of these subjects cannot use ILD cues for localization in the horizontal plane. This is partly due to a lack of high-frequency residual hearing in the acoustically stimulated ear. Using acoustic simulations of a cochlear implant and hearing loss, it is shown that localization performance can be improved by up to 14 degrees rms error relative to 48 degrees rms error for broadband noise by artificially introducing ILD cues in the low frequencies. The algorithm that was used for ILD introduction is described.

• Authors: Tom Francart, Tim Van den Bogaert, Marc Moonen, Jan Wouters
• Journal: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (J Acoust Soc Am) Vol. 126 Issue 6 Pg. 3209-13 (Dec 2009) ISSN: 1520-8524 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20000934 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Acoustic Stimulation
• Adult
• Algorithms
• Analysis of Variance
• Cochlear Implants
• Computer Simulation
• Cues
• Ear
• Hearing
• Hearing Loss
• Humans
• Models, Neurological
• Noise
• Psychoacoustics
• Sound Localization
• Young Adult