Researchers from the University of Southampton Institute of Sound and Vibration Research have recently published experimental work, which shows how providing speech information through vibrations on the skin can improve speech recognition in noise.
Hundreds of thousands of people with severe hearing loss depend on surgically implanted electronic devices to recover some of their hearing.
These devices, known as auditory or cochlear implants, aren’t perfect. In particular, implant users find it difficult to understand speech when there is background noise. The video below simulates what it’s like to hear through an auditory implant:
The researchers’ goal is to develop a compact, inexpensive, wrist-worn device that will help implant users to hear in noisy places. This could expand their access to education, work and leisure.
The exciting research was also featured in The Conversation earlier this month.
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