Worst-Case-Optimization Robust-MVDR Beamformer for Stereo Noise Reduction in Hearing Aids

You are here

Top Reasons to Join SPS Today!

1. IEEE Signal Processing Magazine
2. Signal Processing Digital Library*
3. Inside Signal Processing Newsletter
4. SPS Resource Center
5. Career advancement & recognition
6. Discounts on conferences and publications
7. Professional networking
8. Communities for students, young professionals, and women
9. Volunteer opportunities
10. Coming soon! PDH/CEU credits
Click here to learn more.

Worst-Case-Optimization Robust-MVDR Beamformer for Stereo Noise Reduction in Hearing Aids

By: 
Wilmer Lobato; Márcio Holsbach Costa

This paper presents a robust beamformer for stereo noise reduction in hearing aid applications. The worst-case optimization method was applied to the binaural minimum-variance distortionless-response (BMVDR) beamformer, for providing robustness against parameter estimation inaccuracies. This property is essential in real-world applications, since it is well known that steering-vector and noise-correlation estimation errors may significantly degrade the BMVDR performance. It is shown that its control parameters can be designed as a function of the noisy-speech interaural-level-difference estimate. Simulation experiments for synthetic and real-world noise, as well as for a range of signal to interference ratios (SIR) were performed. For a particular set of fixed control parameters, it is shown that the mean performance of the conventional BMVDR may be improved by 0.76 wideband perceptual evaluation of speech quality (WPESQ). The proposed method is especially effective for input SIRs higher than 10 dB, which is a crucial range for hearing aid users.

SPS on Twitter

  • DEADLINE EXTENDED: The 2023 IEEE International Workshop on Machine Learning for Signal Processing is now accepting… https://t.co/NLH2u19a3y
  • ONE MONTH OUT! We are celebrating the inaugural SPS Day on 2 June, honoring the date the Society was established in… https://t.co/V6Z3wKGK1O
  • The new SPS Scholarship Program welcomes applications from students interested in pursuing signal processing educat… https://t.co/0aYPMDSWDj
  • CALL FOR PAPERS: The IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Signal Processing is now seeking submissions for a Special… https://t.co/NPCGrSjQbh
  • Test your knowledge of signal processing history with our April trivia! Our 75th anniversary celebration continues:… https://t.co/4xal7voFER

IEEE SPS Educational Resources

IEEE SPS Resource Center

IEEE SPS YouTube Channel