FNIRS Assessment of Speech Comprehension in Children with Normal Hearing and Children with Hearing Aids in Virtual Acoustic Environments
Pilot Data and Practical Recommendations
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15714037 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Laura Bell (0000-0002-9425-740X, RWTH Aachen University, corresponding author), Z Ellen Peng (0000-0002-3487-2144, University of Wisconsin–Madison), Florian Pausch (0000-0003-2728-3170, RWTH Aachen University), Vanessa Reindl (0000-0001-7791-5346, Jülich Aachen Research Alliance), Christiane Neuschaefer‐Rube (0000-0002-2207-0670, RWTH Aachen University), Janina Fels (0000-0002-8694-7750, RWTH Aachen University), Kerstin Konrad (0000-0001-9039-2615, Jülich Aachen Research Alliance) |
| Year | 2020 |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue | 11 |
| Pages | 219-219 |
| Publication date | 2020-11-07 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Children (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2227-9067 • E-ISSN: 2227-9067 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/children7110219 |
| PMID | 33171753 |
| OpenAlex | W3103005278 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 3 |
The integration of virtual acoustic environments (VAEs) with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) offers novel avenues to investigate behavioral and neural processes of speech-in-noise (SIN) comprehension in complex auditory scenes. Particularly in children with hearing aids (HAs), the combined application might offer new insights into the neural mechanism of SIN perception in simulated real-life acoustic scenarios. Here, we present first pilot data from six children with normal hearing (NH) and three children with bilateral HAs to explore the potential applicability of this novel approach. Children with NH received a speech recognition benefit from low room reverberation and target-distractors' spatial separation, particularly when the pitch of the target and the distractors was similar. On the neural level, the left inferior frontal gyrus appeared to support SIN comprehension during effortful listening. Children with HAs showed decreased SIN perception across conditions. The VAE-fNIRS approach is critically compared to traditional SIN assessments. Although the current study shows that feasibility still needs to be improved, the combined application potentially offers a promising tool to investigate novel research questions in simulated real-life listening. Future modified VAE-fNIRS applications are warranted to replicate the current findings and to validate its application in research and clinical settings
Audiology · Comprehension · Speech recognition · Computer Science · Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation · Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics · Medicine · Noise Effects and Management · Psychology
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |