Forward-masking recovery is slower in sensorineural hearing loss regardless of audibility

Evidence

On the other hand, forward-masking experiments illustrate poorer temporal processing in listeners with SNHL. Listeners experience a reduced release from forward masking, in which the representation of the masker persists for a greater period of time than for normal-hearing listeners. Finally, these listeners also experience a reduction in temporal integration. Listeners with SNHL receive only very small benefits in detection ability from increasing stimulus duration. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 1120 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

The reduced release from forward masking has substantial implications for listeners with sensorineural hearing loss. Even when target stimuli are presented in a quiet environment, components of the target stimulus that precede other components can drastically influence the ability to extract information present throughout the duration of the target. For example, within a speech signal, a high-intensity vowel could, in theory, forward-mask a low-intensity consonant, causing difficulty for the listener with hearing loss to identify that consonant. Slowing speech can also help with forward masking effects, but is not always easily achievable. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 1111 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Only simultaneous masking arises in cochlear peripheral processing; Slow release from forward masking impairs comprehension of rapid speech. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 1039; Forward masking measures temporal processing between distinct sounds. (+7 more)

Related

• Hearing loss extends internal masker persistence and shrinks duration benefits (similarity 0.92)
• Only simultaneous masking arises in cochlear peripheral processing (similarity 0.92)
• Prolonged forward masking makes vowels mask consonants in impaired ears (similarity 0.91)
• Slow release from forward masking impairs comprehension of rapid speech. (similarity 0.90)
• Forward masking measures temporal processing between distinct sounds. (similarity 0.90)
• Hearing-impaired listeners show intact gap detection but prolonged forward masking that hides consonants (similarity 0.90)
• Forward masking decay slows markedly after masker offset in hearing loss (similarity 0.89)
• Within-speech forward masking hampers consonant identification for hearing-impaired listeners (similarity 0.87)
• Forward masking reveals how the ear’s perceptual representation of sound decays over time (similarity 0.86)
• A narrowband masker selectively taxes temporal coding in hearing-impaired listeners (similarity 0.85)
• Sensorineural hearing loss worsens masking beyond mere threshold elevation (similarity 0.85)
• Loud flanking syllables immediately preceding a soft target induce forward masking (similarity 0.85)
• Forward masking persists up to 200 ms after the masker ends (similarity 0.85)
• Loud speech sounds can mask quieter ones within the same utterance for hearing-impaired listeners (similarity 0.84)
• Hearing loss reduces audibility and restricts usable bandwidth for temporal processing (similarity 0.84)

Broader Connections

• Hearing loss extends internal masker persistence and shrinks duration benefits #corroborates (0.88) — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 1120
• Within-speech forward masking hampers consonant identification for hearing-impaired listeners #corroborates (0.85)
• Prolonged forward masking makes vowels mask consonants in impaired ears #corroborates (0.82) — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 1111
• Gap detection and amplitude modulation remain intact in sensorineural hearing loss #contradicts (0.80)
• A narrowband masker selectively taxes temporal coding in hearing-impaired listeners #expands (0.75)