Abstract：
High-frequency speech information is susceptible to inaccurate perception in even mild to moderate forms of hearing loss. Some hearing aids employ frequency-lowering methods such as nonlinear frequency compression (NFC) to help hearing-impaired individuals access high-frequency speech information in more accessible lower-frequency regions. As such techniques cause significant spectral distortion, tests such as the S-Sh Confusion Test help optimize NFC settings to provide high-frequency audibility with the least distortion. Such tests have been traditionally based on speech contrasts pertinent to English. Here, the effects of NFC processing on fricative perception between English and Mandarin listeners are assessed. Small but significant differences in fricative discrimination were observed between the groups. The study demonstrates possible need for language-specific clinical fitting procedures for NFC.
摘要：
即使在轻度至中度形式的听力损失中，高频语音信息也容易受到不准确的感知。一些助听器采用诸如非线性频率压缩(NFC)之类的频率降低方法来帮助听力受损的个体在更易于访问的低频区域中访问高频语音信息。由于这些技术导致显著的频谱失真，S-Sh混淆测试等测试有助于优化NFC设置，以提供失真最小的高频可听度。传统上，此类测试是基于与英语相关的语音对比。这里,评估了NFC处理对英语和普通话听众之间的摩擦感的影响。两组之间的摩擦音辨别差异很小，但显着差异。该研究表明可能需要针对NFC的语言特异性临床拟合程序。
