Simulation of hearing loss using compressive gammachirp auditory filters

Hearing loss simulation (HLS) systems can provide normal hearing (NH) listeners with demonstrations of consequences of hearing impairment. An accurate simulation of hearing loss can be a valuable tool for developing signal processing strategies for hearing aids. This paper presents a novel HLS system which is based on a physiologically motivated compressive gammachirp auditory filter bank to simulate several aspects of hearing loss including elevated hearing threshold, loudness recruitment and reduced frequency selectivity. The model was evaluated by speech-in-noise tests. An experiment with normally hearing and hearing-impaired listeners showed that the proposed HLS model can mimic typical hearing loss. It is concluded that a physiologically-inspired hearing loss model can perform in the same way as phenomenological models, yet has more fundamental underpinning.