Speech in noise, music perception and some nuances of DSP Saturday March 3, 2012 at the Novotel Toronto
Mississauga
Pre-registration Only by Feb. 27, 2012. Seminars on Audition is a one day conference relevant to Audiologists, Hearing Instrument Practitioners, researchers and Engineers interested in hearing loss, its prevention, assessment and remediation. For almost a quarter of a century, experts from all over North America have shared their knowledge and insight with us. A forum will be provided where participants can exchange experiences, information and philosophies. All proceeds from Seminars on Audition go to sponsor two scholarships. One enables a University of Western Ontario Audiology student in their final year of study to visit an extra-ordinary facility anywhere in North America. Previous recipients have attended world class clinical and research facilities. The other scholarship goes to support the Poul B. Madsen Award through the University of Toronto Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering. This is for a graduate student who demonstrates excellence in applied Biomedical Engineering. What do the perception of speech in noise and the appreciation of music have in common? The brain comes to mind. Cognitive processes are intimately linked with the nature of the input signal and environment. Nina Kraus’s work on how the brain is configured to handle music provides insight into how it allows us to pick up speech in a noisy environment- the two areas of research are intimately intertwined. And what are some of the engineering challenges and issues to be resolved- this is where Steve Armstrong comes along with some of the limitations and issues with DSP technology.
8:45-9:15 Registration (complimentary coffee, tea and muffins available) 9:15-12 noon Speech in noise and music perception Nina Kraus,Ph.D. Sensory processing of speech and music is tightly coupled with the cognitive abilities that underlie language and musical expertise; this knowledge can be used to advantage in the consideration of educational and remediation strategies for hard of hearing children and for improvement of an adult’s ability to hear speech in a noisy environment. 10:45-11:00
Coffee Break
2:45-3:00 Coffee break 3:00-5:00 Steve Armstrong
Given its many advantages, Digital Signal Processing (DSP) is not without its challenges. Hearing Aid designers and software developers routinely make trade-offs during the development process. This talk responds to questions frequently raised by the clinical community. Comments like “We were told once everything went digital there wouldn't be any circuit noise or distortion”, and “Why do we now have to worry about time delay issues”. Likewise the fitting process is heavily dependent on software which places high reliance on the mathematical models of the product and the patient. So what does the “On Screen” display really represent? Factors such as the RECD have an impact and will be used to illustrate potential issues. Contributors Nina Kraus, Ph.D., Hugh Knowles Professor, (Communication Sciences; Neurobiology & Physiology; Otolaryngology) at Northwestern University, directs the Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory. Dr. Kraus investigates biological bases of speech and music. In addition to being a pioneering thinker who bridges multiple disciplines (aging, development, literacy, music, and learning), Dr. Kraus is a technological innovator who roots her research in translational science. Steve Armstrong, BEng, provides strategic engineering services through his company, SoundsGood Labs. Steve has been involved in the hearing aid field for over 20 years. His interests include acoustics, Integrated Circuit (chip) design, algorithm and software development, and of course psycho-acoustics. Steve works with various organizations to help bring products and associated support to market, and he regularly participates in a number of standards groups.
For more information contact: Marshall Chasin or Joanne Deluzio Program Co-ordinators (416) 96-MUSIC or (416) 804-0446 (cell) CEUs applied for. |