Contribution
ABR to Continuous Speech: Improvements with an Auditory Model, and Extension to the Sound-Field
* Presenting author
Abstract:
The auditory brainstem response (ABR) is crucial for objective hearing assessment. Recent studies show that a neural response peak akin to click-ABR wave V can be estimated while humans listen to continuous speech through earphones. Here, we incorporated an auditory nerve model (ANM) into response estimation and explored subcortical responses to continuous speech presented in the sound-field. Electroencephalography was recorded from 24 normal-hearing participants while they listened to stories via insert earphones or a loudspeaker. Linear temporal response functions were computed after accounting for non-linear processing in the auditory periphery using an ANM.Results show that using an ANM significantly improved model fits and response peak SNRs. While room acoustics had some effects, peak amplitude and latency were significantly positively correlated when speech was presented via earphones or in the sound-field. Only 16 minutes of data was needed to obtain significant response peaks from all participants using this method. Subcortical responses to continuous speech were improved by adding an ANM and could be measured in the sound-field. Measuring subcortical responses to complex natural stimuli in realistic settings may pave the way towards ecologically valid objective hearing assessments and smart assistive hearing technologies.