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Research

Speech Adaptation & Translational (Re)habilitation

Sarah Bayer presenting

Current research efforts are focused on contributing to both basic models of the speech perception mechanism and clinical recommendations for optimizing spoken language outcomes for individuals with hearing loss. We use an interdisciplinary framework to explore the perceptual, cognitive, and neural basis of spoken language processing and speech learning.Ìý

Student researcher in lab

Both normal hearing listeners and listeners with hearing loss encounter situations that lead to speech understanding difficulties (e.g., bad cellphone reception; accented speech; noisy environments), yet often with a bit of experience, listeners come to comprehend those signals rather quickly. For listeners with hearing loss, the use of devices like hearing aids or cochlear implants supports access to the auditory signal of speech. However, adapting to new devices like a hearing aid or cochlear implant can be a process that takes time and individual listeners vary in terms of speech intelligibility benefits. Research in the lab is particularly interested in the adaptation process that supports speech learning in listeners with and without hearing loss.

Research in the lab generally falls in the following broad themes:

  • Explicating the role of experience (passive or active auditory training) on adaptation to novel speech signals
  • Leveraging speech learning to maximize benefit for individuals adapting to cochlear implants or hearing aids
  • Characterizing differences in speech adaptation and needs between pediatric and adult listeners with hearing loss
  • Exploring the downstream effects of improved speech adaptation on cognitive and physiologic mechanisms such as listening-related fatigue

Lab Publications & Presentations

2025

  • Drouin, J.R., Putnam, L., Davis, C.P. (in press). Malleability of the lexical bias effect for degraded speech.
  • Bayer, S. & Drouin, J.R. (2025). Sleep proximity on speech learning outcomes for degraded speech. Presented at the 2025 American Auditory Society Conference. Scottsdale, AZ.
  • Drouin, J.R., Jedlowski, E., Rose, B., Sapp, C., & Ponturiero, K. (2025). Characterizing sleep outcomes in school-age children with hearing loss. Presented at the 2025 American Auditory Society Conference. Scottsdale, AZ.
  • Drouin, J.R., Geller, J., Prystauka, Y., Colby, S., & Mango, T. (2025). Measuring lexical competition in spoken language using webcam-based eye-tracking. Presented at the 2025 American Auditory Society Conference. Scottsdale, AZ.

2024

  • Drouin, J.R. & Davis, C.P. (2024). Individual differences in visual pattern completion predict adaptation to degraded speech. , 255, 105449.
  • Drouin, J.R. & Flores, S. (2024). Effects of training length on adaptation to noise-vocoded speech. 155, 2114–2127.

2023

  • Drouin, J. R., & Rojas, J. A. (2023). Influence of face masks on recalibration of phonetic categories. , 1-18.
  • Drouin, J. R., Zysk, V. A., Myers, E. B., & Theodore, R. M. (2023). Sleep-Based Memory Consolidation Stabilizes Perceptual Learning of Noise-Vocoded Speech.Ìý,Ìý66(2), 720-734.

  • Flores, S. & Drouin, J.R. (2023). Effects of Training Length on Adaptation to Noise-vocoded Speech. Presented at the 2023 American Speech Language and Hearing Association Conference. Boston, MA.

  • Drouin, J.R. (July 2023). Engaging cochlear implant users using online methods. Invited talk to be presented at the 2023 BeOnline Conference.

  • Drouin, J.R. & Davis, C.P. (2023). The lexical bias effect in adult cochlear implant users. Presented at the 2023 American Auditory Society Conference. Scottsdale, AZ.

2022

  • Drouin, J. R., & Theodore, R. M. (2022). Many tasks, same outcome: Role of training task on learning and maintenance of noise-vocoded speech.Ìý,Ìý152(2), 981-993.Ìý
  • Desoto, A., Santos, E., Liri, F., Faller, K., Heng, D., Dodd, J., … & Drouin, J. (2022, June). Predicting Audio Training Learning Outcomes Using EEG Data and KNN Modeling. (pp. 466-470). IEEE.
  • Liri, F., Desoto, A., Catalan, W., George, K., Faller, K., & Drouin, J. (2022, January). Monitoring Audio Training Learning Outcomes with EEG Data. ±õ²ÔÌý (CCWC)Ìý(pp. 0545-0551). IEEE.

  • Mosley, C. & Drouin, J.R. Designing evidence-based telehealth aural rehabilitation protocols. (Nov. 2022). Master class presented at the 2022 American Speech Language and Hearing Association Conference. New Orleans, LA.

  • Putnam, L. & Drouin, J.R. (2022). Malleability of the Lexical Bias Effect for Noise-Vocoded Speech. Presented at the 2022 American Speech Language and Hearing Association Conference. New Orleans, LA.

2020

  • Drouin, J. R., & Theodore, R. M. (2020). Leveraging interdisciplinary perspectives to optimize auditory training for cochlear implant users.Ìý,Ìý14(9), e12394.

2018

  • Drouin, J. R., & Theodore, R. M. (2018). Lexically guided perceptual learning is robust to task-based changes in listening strategy.Ìý,Ìý144(2), 1089-1099.

2017

  • Drouin, J. R., Monto, N. R., & Theodore, R. M. (2017). Talker-specificity effects in spoken language processing: Now you see them, now you don’t.Ìý. Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter Mouton, 107-128.

2016

  • Drouin, J. R., Theodore, R. M., & Myers, E. B. (2016). Lexically guided perceptual tuning of internal phonetic category structure.Ìý,Ìý140(4), EL307-EL313.

 

*Individuals interested in accessing published lab articles should email Dr. Julia Drouin (julia_drouin@med.unc.edu). Preprints, data, and code are available on the Open Science Framework as appropriate.Ìý