Speech-in-Noise in a virtual 3D Audio-Environment
Funding by the Digitalisierungsinitiative der Zürcher Hochschulen
Background
Many individuals struggle to understand speech in challenging listening environments, even without measurable hearing loss. This difficulty can lead to social isolation and worsen existing issues. Research is focused on understanding the mechanisms behind poor speech comprehension in these situations. Traditional speech-in-noise tasks, often using headphones or speakers with both speech and noise from the same source, lack naturalistic conditions and reduce ecological validity, which is essential for studying human behavior.
Objectives
We aim to create realistic scenarios in a virtual 3D audio environment to better understand speech comprehension. These scenarios include museum visits, restaurant settings, train rides, and outdoor picnics with relevant background noises (e.g., train sounds, footsteps, poor acoustics, children playing). We will systematically manipulate experimental conditions to gain more insights in speech comprehension.
Collaboration
This project is a collaborative effort between the University of Zurich (UZH) and the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). Researchers from both institutions bring their expertise to the table, aiming to create a state-of-the-art virtual 3D audio laboratory.