Abstract: The increasing globalization of the world necessitates further strengthening of foreign language learning policies. The brain's foreign language recognition activity is enhanced and effective foreign language learning is enabled by extracting signals of prescribed bands from a speech signal in a foreign language using a first bandpass filter section having two or more bandpass filters, extracting the envelopes of each frequency band signal using envelope extraction sections having envelope extractors, applying a noise source signal to a second bandpass filter section having two or more bandpass filters and extracting noise signals corresponding to the prescribed bands, multiplying the outputs of the first bandpass filter section and the second bandpass filter section in multiplication sections, summing up the outputs of the multiplication sections in an addition section to produce a Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal, and presenting the Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signals for listening.

Abstract: A hearing aid device for processing an input sound signal via a microphone so as to output a sound signal from an earphone comprises a signal processing element, a couple of acoustic nerve excitation pattern calculation elements, a couple of acoustic filter shape memory elements, a comparison element, a correction processing element, etc. The couple of acoustic nerve excitation pattern calculation elements calculate acoustic nerve excitation patterns of a normal hearing person and a hearing impaired person based on an output signal of the signal processing element and acoustic filter shapes of the normal hearing person and the hearing impaired person which are stored in the couple of acoustic filter shape memory elements. Each of the acoustic nerve excitation patterns is compared via the comparison element.

Abstract: The increasing globalization of the world necessitates further strengthening of foreign language learning policies. The brain's foreign language recognition activity is enhanced and effective foreign language learning is enabled by extracting signals of prescribed bands from a speech signal in a foreign language using a first bandpass filter section having two or more bandpass filters, extracting the envelopes of each frequency band signal using envelope extraction sections having envelope extractors, applying a noise source signal to a second bandpass filter section having two or more bandpass filters and extracting noise signals corresponding to the prescribed bands, multiplying the outputs of the first bandpass filter section and the second bandpass filter section in multiplication sections, summing up the outputs of the multiplication sections in an addition section to produce a Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal, and presenting the Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signals for listening.

Abstract: A hearing aid device for processing an input sound signal via a microphone so as to output a sound signal from an earphone comprises a signal processing element, a couple of acoustic nerve excitation pattern calculation elements, a couple of acoustic filter shape memory elements, a comparison element, a correction processing element, etc. The couple of acoustic nerve excitation pattern calculation elements calculate acoustic nerve excitation patterns of a normal hearing person and a hearing impaired person based on an output signal of the signal processing element and acoustic filter shapes of the normal hearing person and the hearing impaired person which are stored in the couple of acoustic filter shape memory elements. Each of the acoustic nerve excitation patterns is compared via the comparison element.

Abstract: A method for estimating the shape of an auditory filter by finding a coefficient p of a roex (p, r) filter which is used as a model for the shape of the auditory filter is provided, which comprises the steps of: generating a tone S?; generating a masker of a notch width g and level Nx? including in a notch the frequency f in which frequency characteristics of the external and middle ears of the subject are considered; transmitting to the subject a sound which superposes the masker on the tone S?; measuring the minimum notch width gx?a of the subject while varying the notch width g; calculating the coefficient p from an upper limit value gmax of the notch width g suitable for the subject and estimating the shape of the auditory filter from the coefficient p calculated above and the value x corresponding to the coefficient r.

Abstract: A method for estimating the shape of an auditory filter by finding a coefficient p of a roex (p, r) filter which is used as a model for the shape of the auditory filter is provided, which comprises the steps of:

Abstract: A method of estimating the shape of an auditory filter by finding a coefficient p of a roex (p, r) filter used as a model of the shape of the auditory filter, comprises the steps of determining the threshold masking level Nx based on a tone S which adds the given value x to the threshold of hearing T of a subject in a frequency f, generating a tone S′ which deducts the given value a from the tone S, generating a masker M of a center frequency f of a notch, notch width g and level Nx, transmitting to the subject an inspection sound which superposes the masker M on the tone S′ by selsctively varying the notch width g, determining the notch width g at which the subject can perceive the tone S′ to be the minimum notch width gx−a of the subject, calculating the coefficient p from the minimum notch width gx−a and the given value a, and estimating the shape of the auditory filter from the coefficient p and the given value x corresponding to the coefficient r.