Abstract

Traditionally, hearing aid tools are primarily developed for understanding speech. As the needs for assistive devices for speech intelligibility increasingly are met, we believe it is time to investigate how to improve musical experience for hearing impaired. With a closer consideration of the music criteria, one might enhance music listening for those with hearing loss. It could also be of practical help for professional musicians with work-related hearing impairment.

The aim of this study has been to investigate if the use of a multiband compressor could help to improve music listening without the presence of other hearing aids. The theory tested was whether dynamic amplitude lifting in the frequencies where hearing loss occurs would affect music perception positively. The study was conducted in the form of a listening test in a studio on a group of 13 hearing impaired persons, with the use of Ableton Live’s built-in multiband dynamics compressor, and Pure Data for MIDI parameter controlling. One frequency channel was used, with a lower limit of 1500 Hz.

On a general level, as for hearing impaired as a group, no significant positive results could be found. More promising results were seen on a personal level, where several subjects found the music with compression more enjoyable.