Training Programs for Improving Speech Perception in Noise: A Review

Understanding speech in the presence of noise is difficult and challenging, even for people with normal hearing. Accurate pitch perception, coding and decoding of temporal and intensity cues, and cognitive factors are involved in speech perception in noise (SPIN); disruption in any of these can be a barrier to SPIN. Because the physiological representations of sounds can be corrected by exercises, training methods for any impairment can be used to improve speech perception. This study describes the various types of bottom-up training methods: pitch training based on fundamental frequency (F0) and harmonics; spatial, temporal, and phoneme training; and top-down training methods, such as cognitive training of functional memory. This study also discusses music training that affects both bottom-up and top-down components and speech training in noise. Given the effectiveness of all these training methods, we recommend identifying the defects underlying SPIN disorders and selecting the best training approach.

[Brain activity throughout audiovisual speech perception by functional magnetic resonance imaging]

Neuroimaging techniques in audiovisual speech processing are innovative approach to neuroscience investigation that steadily influences the deep survey of highly mechanisms involved in this process. The purpose of this study was to evaluate brain activity via functional magnetic resonance imaging throughout audiovisual speech perception in Persian language. Functional MRI was used to assess 19 normal 20-30 year old women while they had been presented syllable /ka/ visually and /pa/ auditory using block design method, in which it would provide two series of imaging, functional and T1-weighted. Subsequently, the results were analyzed and compared by FSL software. The results of this study pointed out that both middle and cortical regions of brain are activated in visual stimuli and its middle regions are activated in response to auditory stimuli. Hence, left anterior supramarginal, some parts of motor speech system including insular and cingulated cortex-precentral cortex were stimulated with visual stimulus and left posterior supramarginal as well as right supramarginal gyrus were stimulated with auditory stimulus. Moreover, in this investigation, McGurk effect was behaviorally proven in fifteen subjects. It was hypothesized that the activation of unique region, supramarginal gyrus, with both audio and visual stimuli indicated the presence of commonplace region for phonologic processing of sensory inputs. In addition, auditory stimuli develop more intense activity; and on the other hand, broaden-maximum voxel-as well as extra regions are demonstrated in response to visual stimuli. These points represent the unfamiliarity of normal individual brain to percept visual speech stimuli

[Internal evaluation of audiology department, faculty of rehabilitation, Tehran university of medical sciences, Iran]

Internal Evaluation means assessment of abilities and potentials. To promote the quality of education, research, health and finally rehabilitation is one of the most important roles and responsibilities of the universities. Promotion of quality of the theoretical and practical education for the Audiology students provides this major with its final goal that is to serve society. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats [SWOTs] of the Audiology department and to identify the ways of diminishing weaknesses and threats. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on undergraduates, postgraduates, graduates, academic staff, and the director of Audiology department in 9 areas, including management flowchart, educational programs, instructional methods and curriculum models, students, educational areas and equipments, graduate, academic staff, research, and treatment. Data were collected by questionnaires. Results were analyzed descriptively and were expressed in raw and percentage. The scores of areas in two measures were as follows: management flowchart 4.36 [87.31%], educational programs 4.17 [83.58%], instructional methods and curriculum models 4.01 [80.26%], students 3.43 [68.60%], educational areas and equipment 3.60 [72.11%], from the view of undergraduates, post graduates, faculties, graduates 3.60 [72.03%], academic staff 4.03 [80.6%], research 3.52 [70.4%], and treatment 4.54 [90.80%]. The highest score was, therefore, of the treatment area and the lowest belonged to the educational area and equipments. The score of the Audiology department, as the main factor was 3.89 out of 5 which was 77.88%. Audiology group total score indicates the desirable status that can be promoted to the most desirable if SWOTs are considered