Date of Award

Spring 2026

Degree Type

Honors College Thesis

Academic Program

Speech Pathology and Audiology BA

Department

Speech and Hearing Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Sangamanatha Ankmnal Veeranna

Advisor Department

Speech and Hearing Sciences

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate how vibrotactile sensory augmentation can improve speech understanding in adverse listening conditions for those with normal hearing by providing auditory speech cues. It aimed to investigate whether there is any value of AVT devices for those with normal hearing in adverse hearing situations, where understanding speech is difficult due to background noise, reverberation, or other factors. This research project is a preliminary case study involving one participant. Tympanometry and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) tests were conducted to verify that the participant did not appear to have hearing loss due to middle or inner ear functionality, and a pure tone audiometry hearing test was conducted at frequencies 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000, 9000, 10000, 11200, 12500, 14000, and 16000 Hz. This research project also utilizes subjective measures through the Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile (GHABP) questionnaire, which includes both rating scales and open-ended questions. The participant was given an acclimation time-period trial of 6 weeks regarding living and communicating while wearing a vibrotactile wristband from Neosensory. Before and after six weeks of daily band use, the participant will report perceived difficulties in specific listening conditions in real-world environments using GHABP.

After wearing the Neosensory vibrotactile wristband for six weeks, the participant TD1 returned for post-testing. The results from comparing pre- and post-tympanometry and DPOAE testing indicate that there was no change in the mobility of the tympanic membrane or the function of outer hair cells for the participant as a result of wearing the vibrotactile sensory input device. Also, there were no significant changes in hearing thresholds. For all pre-determined categories listed on the GHABP, TD1 indicated in the post-test that “the hearing aid device was of no use at all.” These results show that vibrotactile stimulation through the Neosensory device did not improve or have an effect on the normal hearing participants’ speech perception in adverse conditions. Results indicate that the Neosensory Band’s current model may not be effective in improving speech perception for those with underlying conditions, as the intensity of the stimulation paired with the number of times it is produced may lead to greater difficulty in adverse listening conditions.

Download

Share

COinS