Optimizing the simultaneous estimation of frequency selectivity and compression using notched-noise maskers with asymmetric levels

It is important for the development of hearing aids and other audio devices to make accurate estimates of the frequency selectivity and compression of the auditory filter. Previously, we reported a technique for estimating the compression of the auditory filter that combined data from a simultaneous notched-noise experiment and a temporal masking curve (TMC) experiment. Unfortunately, the TMC data derived for individual listeners in forward masking is not stable; the cue to the presence of the signal is not entirely clear in forward masking. In this paper, we report attempts to make the traditional simultaneous notched-noise technique more sensitive to the effects of cochlear compression by varying the relative levels of the noise bands. Asymmetric-level maskers (ALMs) make it possible to estimate the filter shape and compression of the auditory filter simultaneously and reliably; the slope of the input–output function is substantially lower than with symmetric-level maskers. We also describe a procedure ...