La audición binaural y el uso de audífonos e implantes cocleares
ISSN: 0210-3680
Year of publication: 2021
Volume: 52
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 3-14
Type: Article
More publications in: Revista de acústica
Abstract
Binaural hearing is crucial for understanding speech in noisy environments as well as for localizing sound sources. This paper reviews several signal-processing strategies aimed at improving these hearing aspects for users of hearing aids and cochlear implants. In particular, two binaural and bio-inspired strategies developed by the University of Salamanca are described, the so-called ‘MOC strategy’ and an algorithm for contralateral sound cancellation. It is shown that these strategies can significantly improve the intelligibility of speech in noise for some spatial configurations of the sound sources, without affecting sound source localization. Despite these and other promising advances, users of hearing aids and cochlear implants are still far from having normal hearing. Further research is necessary to continue improving these devices.