This document summarizes a study that investigated the links between auditory processing and speech perception in children with sensorineural hearing loss. The study compared 10 children with mild-moderate hearing loss to 18 children with normal hearing on tasks measuring envelope detection and speech-in-noise perception. The results showed that children with hearing loss had better sensitivity at detecting fast envelope fluctuations and envelopes with a higher number of fluctuations compared to normal hearing children. Performance on envelope detection tasks was also correlated with speech-in-noise perception, suggesting that sensitivity to fast envelope fluctuations may be associated with better speech-in-noise abilities. The degree of hearing loss was also correlated with poorer speech-in-noise thresholds.

1. Links between auditory and
speech processing in children
with sensorineural hearing loss
Laurianne Cabrera
Université Paris Descartes

2. Envelope
TFS,
frequency
selectivity
Do children
with MMHL
have poorer
AP?
Previous studies

3. Envelope
Questions
WHY?
Is poor Envelope
processing linked
to difficulties with
speech
perception in
noise in children
with MMHL?

4. Challenging listening conditions

5. Speech perception
Envelope (E)
Temporal Fine Structure (TFS)

6. Speech perception in noise

7. Participants
Variable
Hearing Impaired
group
n = 10
Normal Hearing
group
n = 18
Age (years) 6.1 (5.1 – 7.4) 6.0 (5.2 – 7.5)
Gender (girls: boys) 4:6 8:10
PTA threshold (dB HL) 47.6 (27.5 – 68.0)
HL confirmed (years) 1.8 (0 - 6)
Hearing aids (n) 9 0
Vocabulary 98.6 (87 - 110) 90.8 (71 - 120)

8. Sounds: Envelope fluctuations
Difficulty
Number of fluctuationsFluctuation rate
4 Hzslow
32 Hz
8 Hz
fast
2 8
+
500 ms
Difficulty
2000 ms

9. Task

10. Task

11. Task

12. −40
−30
−20
−10
0
4 8 32
fluctuation rate (Hz)
detectionthresholds(dB)
Children with
normal hearing
hearing impairment
Better
Slow Fast
Results: detection of E & fluctuation rate

13. −40
−30
−20
−10
0
2 8
number of fluctuation
detectionthresholds(dB)
Children with
normal hearing
hearing impairment
Better
Results: detection of E & number of fluctuations

14. Summary of E processing in MMHL children
→ Better sensitivity to fast Envelope
→ Better sensitivity with higher number of fluctuations
Some auditory mechanisms may be impaired with
cochlear damage but enhance processing of Envelope?
Envelope

15. Speech in noise
afa
ava afa

16. Speech in noise
−20
0
20
40
place
Speech in noise
discriminationthresholds(dB)
Children with
normal hearing
hearing impairment
Better
−20
0
20
40
place
Speech in noise
Speechinnoisethresholds(indB)
Children with
normal hearing
hearing impairment

17. Speech in noise
Degree of hearing loss (dB)
706050403020
Speechinnoise
(thresholdsindB)
40
30
20
10
0
-10
-20
R2 Linear = 0.368
→ Children with more severe hearing
loss show more difficulties for speech in
noise
−20
0
20
40
place
Speech in noise
discriminationthresholds(dB)
Children with
normal hearing
hearing impairment
Better
−20
0
20
40
place
Speech in noise
Speechinnoisethresholds(indB)
Children with
normal hearing
hearing impairment

18. Predictors of speech in noise? N = 28
Age
Hearing impairment (Y/N)
Vocabulary level
Detection of E with more fluctuations
Detection of fast E fluctuations
Relation between E and Speech in noise

19. Summary for speech in noise and E processing
Probably,
Sensitivity to fast E fluctuations
and to higher number of
fluctuations associates with
speech in noise
Is poor Envelope
processing linked
to difficulties with
speech
perception in
noise in children
with MMHL?

20. Thank you!

21. Detection of E with large
number of fluctuations
0-10-20-30-40
Speechinnoise
(tresholdsindB)
40
30
20
10
0
-10
-20
-30
1.00
.00
Hearing
status
1.00: R2 Linear = 0.658
.00: R2 Linear = 0.235
Detection of E with fast
fluctuations
0-10-20-30-40
Speechinnoise
(tresholdsindB)
40
30
20
10
0
-10
-20
-30
1.00
.00
Hearing
status
1.00: R2 Linear = 0.025
.00: R2 Linear = 0.442
Relation between E and Speech in noise