RP314 - Using Electroencephalography to Evaluate the Benefit of Split-processing in Hearing Aids

Abstract: Signal processing techniques for enhancing the contrast between speech and background noise are typically limited to acting on a single mixed signal stream. A novel system that instead splits incoming sound into “focus” and “surround” streams, and applies independent processing to each stream, has already been shown to improve speech-in-noise understanding (Jensen et al., 2021). Here, we present electroencephalographic evidence showing that the behavioral benefits of split-processing are supported by stronger tracking of changing speech sounds and decreased inhibition (i.e., listening effort) in the brains of hearing aid wearers presented with speech in a cocktail party type setting.