Binaural and better ear listening predictions for spatially distributed sources

The distribution of acoustical sources in space provides interaural differences to the auditory system. They improve source selectivity and thus enhance performances in speech recognition by subjects. The present study addresses predictions of intelligibility in binaural hearing. In a first experiment, the model proposed by Lavandier and Culling (2010) is successfully validated on an exhaustive set of speech and noise distribution in anechoic room. A second experimental set of data in reverberant rooms is compared to the predictions of the Speech Transmission Index combined with Binaural Masking Level Differences.