Relationship between spectrotemporal modulation in non-speech sounds and valence ratings for adults with and without hearing loss (L)

The study aim was to evaluate differences in ratings of valence made for a set of nonspeech sounds varying in spectrotemporal modulation. For 17 auditory-frequency bands (from 125 to 9474 Hz), modulation index values were extracted at five rates (from 2 to 32 Hz). Higher ratings of valence were associated with lower modulation values in the frequency region below 500 Hz and higher modulation values in the 1620-4000 Hz region. Listeners with hearing loss demonstrated significantly shallower relationships between modulation index and ratings of valence compared to adults with normal hearing. This could partially explain previously demonstrated compressed valence associated with hearing loss.