ABSTRACT
Speech understanding, while effortless in quiet conditions, is challenging in noisy environments. Previous studies have revealed that a feasible approach to supplement speech-in-noise (SiN) perception consists in presenting speech-derived signals as haptic input. In the current study, we investigated whether the presentation of a vibrotactile signal derived from the speech temporal envelope can improve SiN intelligibility in a multi-talker background for untrained, normal-hearing listeners. We also determined if vibrotactile sensitivity, evaluated using vibrotactile detection thresholds, modulates the extent of audio-tactile SiN improvement. In practice, we measured participants' speech recognition in a multi-talker noise without (audio-only) and with (audio-tactile) concurrent vibrotactile stimulation delivered in three schemes: to the left or right palm, or to both. Averaged across the three stimulation delivery schemes, the vibrotactile stimulation led to a significant improvement of 0.41 dB in SiN recognition when compared to the audio-only condition. Notably, there were no significant differences observed between the improvements in these delivery schemes. In addition, audio-tactile SiN benefit was significantly predicted by participants' vibrotactile threshold levels and unimodal (audio-only) SiN performance. The extent of the improvement afforded by speech-envelope-derived vibrotactile stimulation was in line with previously uncovered vibrotactile enhancements of SiN perception in untrained listeners with no known hearing impairment. Overall, these results highlight the potential of concurrent vibrotactile stimulation to improve SiN recognition, especially in individuals with poor SiN perception abilities, and tentatively more so with increasing tactile sensitivity. Moreover, they lend support to the multimodal accounts of speech perception and research on tactile speech aid devices.
Subject(s)
Hearing Loss , Speech Perception , Humans , Speech/physiology , Speech Perception/physiology , Haptic Technology , Hearing/physiology , Speech IntelligibilitySubject(s)
Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital/etiology , Pregnancy Complications/drug therapy , Adult , Disorders of Sex Development/etiology , Female , Fetal Diseases/chemically induced , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Mosaicism , Ovarian Cysts/congenital , Pregnancy , Progesterone/adverse effects , Progesterone/therapeutic use , Sodium Chloride/metabolism , Water-Electrolyte ImbalanceABSTRACT
The authors present their own experience in the intersomatic arthrodesis for severe scolioses, with or without means of osteosynthesis. The indication for this intervention is justified only as an atribute of absolute "vital indication". This surgery is far-reaching, requires an accurate technique, well adjusted instruments and conditions of advanced intensive care. The results were satisfactory both for the correction of the gibbosity but especially for the functional recuperation of the restrictive, respiratory insufficiency. 45 patients, out of whom 9 required an arthrodesis with an original model of thready rod, benefited from anl intersomatic osteotomy. We noticed that a progressive correction of the primitive upper concavity can be obtained by a osteotomy not larger than 4 disks; the patients to whom a spring for permanent compression was set profited by a satisfactory progressive correction.
