Envelope frequency following responses are stronger for high-pass than low-pass filtered vowels

Vanheusden, FJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2369-6189, Chesnaye, MA, Simpson, DM and Bell, SL, 2019. Envelope frequency following responses are stronger for high-pass than low-pass filtered vowels. International Journal of Audiology, 58 (6), pp. 355-362. ISSN 1499-2027

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Abstract

Background: To assess hearing in response to speech, the envelope frequency following response (FFR) can be observed at the fundamental frequency of a vowel stimulus, and its harmonics. FFRs are complex non-linear phenomena, which require better understanding for allowing robust inferences on the assessment of hearing and hearing aid fitting.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of stimulus bandwidth on FFR detection rates using filtered vowel stimuli with equal sound levels.

Design: FFRs were collected whilst presenting repeated vowels (in consonant-vowel-consonant format) filtered into different bandwidths. Eighty stimuli per word were presented at 70 dB SPL LAeq through insert earphones with an inter-stimulus interval of 1s. Responses were detected using frequency-domain Hotelling’s T2 (HT2) tests for individual multiples of the fundamental frequency (F0) and for combinations of F0 multiples.

Study Sample: Eleven native English-speaking subjects with normal hearing thresholds.

Results: Average detection rates are highest (69%) with stimuli high-pass filtered >1000 Hz, and significantly lower for low-pass filtered stimuli (40%).

Conclusion: High-pass filtered vowels elicit stronger FFRs than low-pass filtered vowels at the same dB SPL LAeq. For testing hearing using band-limited speech, filtering effects (due to hearing loss, hearing aid setting or stimulus choice) on responses must be considered.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	International Journal of Audiology
Creators:	Vanheusden, F.J., Chesnaye, M.A., Simpson, D.M. and Bell, S.L.
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Date:	24 January 2019
Volume:	58
Number:	6
ISSN:	1499-2027
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1080/14992027.2018.1562243 DOI
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	10 Jan 2019 10:07
Last Modified:	24 Jan 2020 03:00
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/35521

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