Effect of Compression Ratio and Release Time on Acoustic Cues of Speech Syllables

Temporal and spectral cues play major role in speech perception. It is well documented in the literature that envelope is altered after processed through compression parameters of hearing aid. However, there is a dearth of literature on the status of inherent acoustic cues after amplification with varying compression release time and ratio. This study is investigated by recording the hearing aid output of voiced and voiceless stop consonants combined with vowel /a/ in initial and final positions. Further, a acoustic analyses such as closure duration and transition duration in temporal domain; and in spectral domain F2 transition and speed of transition were measured in different compression release times and ratios. It was noted that different compression release times and the ratios have preserved each acoustic cue of stop consonants. To conclude, irrespective of compression ratios and release times, a WDRC hearing aid does not alter the acoustic cues measured, when the signal input delivered to hearing aid was at 65 dB SPL.