Measurement and Intelligibility Optimization of Directional Microphones for Use in Hearing Aid Devices

Roberts M, Schulein R. Measurement and Intelligibility Optimization of Directional Microphones for Use in Hearing Aid Devices. In: AES Convention 103. Audio Engineering Society; 1997. Paper 4515. Available from: https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=7264

@inproceedings{Roberts1997_7264,
  author = {Roberts, Matthew and Schulein, Robert},
  title = {{Measurement and Intelligibility Optimization of Directional Microphones for Use in Hearing Aid Devices}},
  booktitle = {AES Convention 103},
  note = {Paper 4515},
  year = {1997},
  month = sep,
  publisher = {Audio Engineering Society},
  url = {https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=7264}
}

TY  - CPAPER
TI  - Measurement and Intelligibility Optimization of Directional Microphones for Use in Hearing Aid Devices
AU  - Roberts, Matthew
AU  - Schulein, Robert
T2  - AES Convention 103
M1  - Paper 4515
PY  - 1997
DA  - 1997/09/06
UR  - https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=7264
PB  - Audio Engineering Society
LA  - en
AB  - A person with normal hearing has the ability to understand speech in noise when tested at signal-to-noise ratios as low as -5 dB. In order for hearing-impaired individuals to achieve similar comprehension, it is necessary to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of such speech signals by 5 to 15 dB. No electronic signal processing technique has been shown to provide such improvements as those obtainable with directional microphones. This paper will focus on the development and use of measurement techniques for evaluating and optimizing directional microphones designed for use in Behind-The-Ear (BTE) and In-The-Ear (ITE) hearing aids. Data on directional performance will be presented for current omni-directional and directional hearing aid designs, optimized for BTE applications, as well as a new directional microphone design suitable for use in ITE hearing aids. The concept of an Articulation Index weighted Directivity Index (AI-DI) will be developed and presented as a meaningful measure of intelligibility performance for microphones.
ER  -