A new speech-enhancement method created by a professor of the University of Aizu has been published

　The Journal IEEE Transactions on Audio, Speech and Language Processing published an article authored by Julián Villegas (University of Aizu) titled "A New Method for Speech Enhancement Based on Harmonic Distortion."

　Ever struggled to hear someone in a crowded place?
Prof. Villegas has developed a new speech-enhancement method that tweaks speech audio by blending two types of distortions so our brains can pick out words even in noisy, echoic environments.
In tests, people were up to 18 times more likely to recognize words with this method compared to plain speech in tough noise conditions. And the best part is it doesn't rely on making speech louder. So it helps cut down on environmental noise and reduces noise-related hazards.

　From bustling cafeterias to reverberant rooms, this breakthrough could one day make conversations clearer, no matter how loud the world gets.
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<Details of the paper>
Name of Journal: Journal IEEE Transactions on Audio, Speech and Language Processing
Authors: Julián Villegas
Title: A New Method for Speech Enhancement Based on Harmonic Distortion
Date of publication: Sep. 2025
Link to publication: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11159298

The proposed method is called O-HDDRC in the above figure

About Journal IEEE Transactions on Audio, Speech and Language Processing

The IEEE Transactions on Audio, Speech and Language Processing is dedicated to innovative theory and methods for processing signals representing audio, speech and language, and their applications. This includes analysis, synthesis, enhancement, transformation, classification and interpretation of such signals as well as the design, development, and evaluation of associated signal processing systems.
It has a SCImago Journal Rank indicator of 1.061 (2024), and a H-index of 92. Further details of this journal are available https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentIssue.jsp?punumber=10723155