Digital evaluation of effect of noise on speech: the signal to noise ratio

• Grant number: 11/04821-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal researcher: Adriane Lima Mortari Moret
• Grantee: Vanessa Luisa Destro Fidêncio
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Noise is a factor contributing negatively to the ability to understand speech, which can harm the development of children with hearing impairment. In classrooms, speech is rarely transmitted to children without interference from background noise. At the same time, the effective transmission of auditory information is essential to a better academic performance. In most learning environments, which further interferes so there is a good speech perception is not the kind of noise or the overall level of background noise, but the signal to noise ratio. The FM system works as the most effective way to improve the uptake of the speech signal and eliminate the effects of distance, noise and reverberation, especially in the educational environment. A technique called "guarantee of sound" is a tool that can quantify the signal to noise ratio. The HINT (Hearing in Noise Test) is a test used to determine the threshold for speech recognition in noise. Objective: To evaluate the signal to noise ratio that to which the hearing impaired are exposed to school environment and compare it with the speech reception threshold in noise in hearing impaired students. Methods: The work will be carried Speech Therapy Clinic of the Department of Speech, FOB / USP Bauru and the State Education Network of Bauru, with students with hearing impaired and oral language established, users of hearing aids and / or cochlear implant coupled to the FM. The measurement of signal to noise ratio is achieved by the use of a portable digital recorder, a lapel microphone and an audio processing program for computer, according to the technique of "guarantee of sound." For the evaluation of speech perception in noise, the procedure performed will be the implementation of the Brazilian version of the test Hearing in Noise Test (HINT), free field in two stages: first with the child using only their individual sound amplification devices and / or cochlear implant and a second time with the FM system coupled to the individual device. (AU)