Frequency lowering processing for listeners with significant hearing loss

Many listeners with medium-severe hearing loss present audiograms with high frequency loss descending profiles. These patients can resolve spectral cues normally for lower frequency signals but they often show less ability to use high frequency information. We have presented in this paper a new processing algorithm based on a sinusoidal speech model which results is lowered and sharpened speech. Preliminary results of the processed speech material in two impaired listeners suggests that this algorithm could be implemented in digital hearing aids to be used in patients with severe and moderate-severe hearing loss