Abstract: To improve the intelligibility of speech for users with high-frequency hearing loss, the present systems and methods provide an improved frequency lowering system with enhancement of spectral features responsive to place-of-articulation of the input speech. High frequency components of speech, such as fricatives, may be classified based on one or more features that distinguish place of articulation, including spectral slope, peak location, relative amplitudes in various frequency bands, or a combination of these or other such features. Responsive to the classification of the input speech, a signal or signals may be added to the input speech in a frequency band audible to the hearing-impaired listener, said signal or signals having predetermined distinct spectral features corresponding to the classification, and allowing a listener to easily distinguish various consonants in the input.

Abstract: To improve the intelligibility of speech for users with high-frequency hearing loss, the present systems and methods provide an improved frequency lowering system with enhancement of spectral features responsive to place-of-articulation of the input speech. High frequency components of speech, such as fricatives, may be classified based on one or more features that distinguish place of articulation, including spectral slope, peak location, relative amplitudes in various frequency bands, or a combination of these or other such features. Responsive to the classification of the input speech, a signal or signals may be added to the input speech in a frequency band audible to the hearing-impaired listener, said signal or signals having predetermined distinct spectral features corresponding to the classification, and allowing a listener to easily distinguish various consonants in the input.