F2–F3 enhancement improves sentence recognition for N95-muffled speech in noise
Combined F2–F3 enhancement provides broader and more consistent benefits than F2 enhancement alone under compounded degradation.
Read the publication →Hearing Science · Clinical Audiology · AuD Education
Mingshuang Li Ph.D., CCC-A
Assistant Professor & Dispensing Audiologist
Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences
California State University, Northridge
Dr. Li’s research focuses on speech perception in noise and the development of speech-enhancement strategies. He supervises the CSUN Hearing Science Laboratory and contributes to the field as a topic editor and reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals. Drawing on his experience as an ASHA-certified and California-licensed audiologist, he integrates clinical perspectives into teaching, research mentorship, and student supervision in CSUN’s Au.D. program.
Featured Research
Selected Research Findings
Congenital amusics show elevated frequency-modulation detection thresholds across acoustic conditions
The group difference remains consistent across modulation rate, carrier frequency, and stimulus duration, indicating a stable limitation in fine-grained frequency-change sensitivity.
Read the publication →Research
Research Themes
Program vision
How can behavioral, neural, and signal-processing approaches improve speech perception under degraded listening conditions?
Primary research area
Speech enhancement
Developing targeted signal-processing strategies to improve speech perception under degraded listening conditions, including background noise, face-mask attenuation, and hearing loss.
Selected topics: Formant enhancement for natural and N95-muffled speech; combined F2–F3 enhancement; effects of noise type, signal-to-noise ratio, and listener characteristics.
Research foundation
Bilingualism & amusia
Examining how language experience and atypical pitch processing shape speech perception. This work distinguishes language-specific category mapping from basic acoustic sensitivity in bilingual listeners and investigates how congenital amusia affects speech and pitch processing.
Selected topics: Second-language vowel category formation and speech perception in noise; formant-cue sensitivity and masking release; vowel and lexical-tone identification; and frequency-modulation processing in pure amusia and tone agnosia.
Growing research area
Auditory electrophysiology
Using auditory brainstem responses and frequency-following responses to investigate the neural encoding of speech and complex sounds.
Selected topics: Effects of speech content and spectral and temporal modulation on cABR/FFR; development of clinically relevant electrophysiological measures.
Research grants
CSUN internal research grants
- 2026–2027: Faculty Research Project Development Initiative — 6 units of reassigned time
- 2024–2025: Pathways to Tenure Grant — 3 units of reassigned time
- 2022–2023: Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Award — $5,000
Publications
Peer-reviewed and editor-reviewed
publications
A complete publication record spanning speech enhancement, speech perception in noise, auditory psychophysics, congenital amusia, and clinical auditory science.
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2026
Li, M.* Bridging conventional signal processing and edge AI: Speech enhancement for hearing devices under perceptual and computational constraints. Academic Perspectives, 18, 97–106. PDF · Abstract
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2026
Li, M.*, & Liu, C. Sentence recognition and enhancement in noise: Effects of speech muffling, signal-to-noise ratio, and formant enhancement. JASA Express Letters, 6(7), 075204.
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2026
Li, M.*, Nan, Y., Tang, W., Wang, W., & Liu, C. Frequency modulation detection in Mandarin Chinese-speaking amusics across modulation rate, carrier frequency, and stimulus duration. JASA Express Letters, 6(7), 074403.
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2026
Li, M.*, Xu, C., & Liu, C. Dissociating category mapping and formant-cue sensitivity in second-language vowel perception and masking release in noise. Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, 61(1), 060001.
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2026
Li, M.*, Chen, Y., & Qiu, X. Editorial: Speech perception and language development in individuals with special educational needs. Frontiers in Education, 11, 1790429.
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2025
Morgan, E., Lancaster, J., Li, M., & Xu, C.* Subjective and objective auditory measures in early-career music professionals: A pilot study. Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, 60(1), 050003.
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2021
Mi, L., Tao, S., Wang, W., Dong, Q., Dong, B., Li, M., & Liu, C.* Training non-native vowel perception: In quiet or noise. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 149(6), 4607–4619.
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2019
Li, M., Tang, W., Liu, C.*, Nan, Y.*, Wang, W., & Dong, Q. Vowel and tone identification for Mandarin congenital amusics: Effects of vowel type and semantic content. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 62(12), 4300–4308.
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2019
Hu, W., Tao, S., Li, M., & Liu, C.* Distinctiveness and assimilation in vowel perception in a second language. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 62(12), 4534–4543.
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2019
Feng, J., Liu, C., Li, M., Chen, H., Sun, P., Xie, R., Zhao, Y., & Wu, X.* Effect of blindness on mismatch responses to Mandarin lexical tones, consonants, and vowels. Hearing Research, 371, 87–97.
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2018
Liu, X., Li, M., Smyth, H., & Zhang, F.* Otic drug delivery systems: Formulation principles and recent developments. Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 44(9), 1395–1408.
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2016
Li, M., Wang, W.*, Tao, S., Dong, Q., Guan, J., & Liu, C.* Mandarin Chinese vowel-plus-tone identification in noise: Effects of language experience. Hearing Research, 331, 109–118.
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2016
Hu, W., Mi, L., Yang, Z., Tao, S.*, Li, M., Wang, W., Dong, Q., & Liu, C.* Shifting perceptual weights in L2 vowel identification after training. PLOS ONE, 11(9), e0162876.
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2016
Huo, S., Tao, S., Wang, W., Li, M., Dong, Q., & Liu, C.* Auditory detection of non-speech and speech stimuli in noise: Native speech advantage. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 139(5), EL161–EL166.
Selected academic presentations
Sharing research with professional audiences
Selected presentations at national and international meetings in acoustics, audiology, and speech-language-hearing sciences.
Dissociating category mapping and formant-cue sensitivity in second-language vowel perception and masking release in noise
Poster presentation, 190th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Effects of formant enhancement on sentence recognition in noise
Poster presentation, 6th Joint Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America and the Acoustical Society of Japan, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Perceptual effects of formant enhancement across phonetic type, listening conditions, and language experience
Poster presentation, AAA 2025 + HearTECH Expo, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Hearing loss and hearing conservation
Keynote presentation, U.S. Chinese Scholars Association Convention, Ontario, California.
Perceptual effects of formant enhancement across phonetic type, listening conditions, and language experience
Oral technical-session presentation, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention, Boston, Massachusetts.
Perceptual effects of formant enhancement across phonetic type, listening conditions, and language experience
Poster presentation, 184th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Chicago, Illinois.
Formant discrimination of speech and nonspeech sounds in temporally modulated noise
Poster presentation, 177th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Louisville, Kentucky.
Teaching & mentorship
Preparing future audiologists
Teaching, research advising, and clinical education in the CSUN Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) Program.
Core teaching areas
- Hearing Science
- Electrophysiology of the Auditory System I & II
- Advanced Audiometry and Clinical Methods
- Advanced Pediatric Audiology
- Auditory Anatomy and Physiology
- Research Methods in Audiology
Student development
- Au.D. Research Advisor — Mentors Au.D. students in capstone research design, data analysis, scientific writing, conference presentations, and publication preparation.
- Clinical Supervisor — Supervises Au.D. students in clinical practicum, diagnostic audiology, electrophysiological assessment, vestibular evaluation, and professional clinical skills.
Clinical Practice & Supervision
Credentials, professional practice, and student supervision
Clinical Credentials & Licensure
Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
CCC-A · Issued 2022
California Dispensing Audiologist License
California Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology & Hearing Aid Dispensers Board
- Audiologist License · Issued 2022
- Hearing Aid Dispenser License · Issued 2025
Clinical Experience
Clinical training experience includes Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, the UT Speech & Hearing Center, Austin ENT Associates, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Sonova Group.
Clinical Supervision
At CSUN, he provides clinical supervision in hearing assessment, electrophysiology, vestibular evaluation, and related audiology services at the Language, Speech, and Hearing Center.
Leadership & professional service
Supporting programs, journals, the profession and society
Supervising Faculty, CSUN Hearing Science Laboratory
Leads laboratory research, student mentoring, and project development.
Capstone Research Advisor, CSUN Au.D. Program
Has served as primary advisor for more than 20 Au.D. capstone research projects.
Associate and Guest Editor
Editorial service for Frontiers journals and the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research.
Journal reviewer
Reviewer for JSLHR, Frontiers in Psychology, JMIR journals, and the Journal of Psycholinguistic Research.
Interim Director, CSUN Au.D. Program
Supported program operations and academic leadership from January through May 2026.
Faculty Advisor, CSUN Student Academy of Audiology
Advises student leadership, professional development activities, and engagement with the audiology community.
Vice President, The USA Chinese Scholars Association (USACSA)
Supports organizational leadership, academic exchange, and professional collaboration.
Faculty Advisor, CSUN Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA)
Advises student leadership, cultural programming, and campus engagement.
Collaboration
Interested in working together?
I welcome collaborations involving speech enhancement, hearing technology, speech-in-noise perception, FFR/cABR, clinical validation, and behavioral–neural relationships.