Development of Binaural Time-Delay Apparatus for Improving Intelligibility of Speech
Donald C. Gasaway · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1972
A variety of electroacoustic instruments and devices have evolved in attempts to improve the perception and discrimination of aural signals and messages. This paper describes instrumentation that delivers binaurally time-delayed signals that trend to enhance the intelligibility of speech signals delivered to subjects. The electroacoustic device reported in this paper can be used to improve the intelligibility of desired signals when immersed in masking noise. The device used to achieve binaural time-delays encompasses completely variable delays ranging from 0 (in-phase) to 1500 msec. This device has proven of considerable value in situations where desired speech signals coexist with masking or other interfering noises, such as voice recordings obtained within cockpits of aircraft. Practical applications of binaural time-delay phenomenon are discussed.