Prediction method for listening score and psychological impression taking into account hearing loss due to factors such as aging

This paper considers how the listening scores obtained for audio signals and psychological impressions for speech audibility change when factors such as hearing loss due to aging are taken into account. Concretely, frequency filters for simulating hearing loss due to factors such as aging are first prepared. Next, psychological listening experiments are conducted in which both the audio signal and the noise passing through the above-mentioned filters are transmitted to subjects with normal hearing. Using the observed experimental data, the relationships between the weighted-mean spectral distance and the listening scores of the audio signals and psychological impressions with respect to speech audibility are investigated. Next, based on these relationships, problems associated with the prediction of listening scores of audio signals and psychological impressions with respect to speech audibility are discussed. The predicted results are in good agreement with the observed values.