Experimental Approaches to the Study of Sound Source Localization by Distance in Hearing Pathology

This paper presents an overview of current experimental approaches used to assess the ability to localize sound sources by distance in hearing pathology. The influences of the characteristic signs of hearing impairment on the processes of identifying the main indicators of localization – signal level, spectral characteristics, and binaural interactions during auditory perception of the distance to stationary and moving sound or speech sources – are considered. The review includes the results of the authors’ own research, along with published data on changes in the resolution of hearing by distance in sensorineural hearing loss with different grades of bilateral and unilateral loss, and in central auditory disorders, including age-related aspects of this problem. The compensatory potential of the auditory spatial function is described on use of non-invasive and invasive hearing aids and on training using elements of acoustic virtual reality. A methodological approach to forming spatial scenes is proposed, which is available for implementation in clinical practice.