This paper explores the feasibility of using the Speech Intelligibility Index (SII) to evaluate the performance of a digital hearing aid. This standardized measure returns a number, between zero and unity, which can be interpreted as the proportion of the total speech information available to the listener, and correlates with the intelligibility of the speech signal. The paper will focus on the use of the SII as a metric from which to compare the performance of two different hearing aids, in terms of speech intelligibility. From the purpose of this work, experiments employing data from 4 real subjects with mild-to-profund hearing losses, when using these different hearing aids, will be done. Results will show how the use of the SII can lead to a better selection of a hearing aid in the detriment of others, while avoiding the need for making extensive subjective listening tests.

Authors: Álvarez, Lorena; Vaquero, Leticia; Alexandre, Enrique; Cuadra, Lucas; Gil-Pita, Roberto
Affiliation: University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
AES Convention: 128 (May 2010) Paper Number: 8105
Publication Date: May 1, 2010
Subject: Psychoacoustics and Listening Tests

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