bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Verbal Auditory Closure and the Speech Perception in Noise (SPIN) Test
Authors: Elliott Lois L.
Published: July 2014

Ability to utilize auditory contextual information to facilitate speech-recognition verbal auditory closure is postulated to be a specific factor or primary mental ability, separable from general intelligence or other mental functions. This paper proposes that measurement of verbal auditory closure provides useful clinical information. Because the Speech Perception in Noise (SPIN) Test allows separate scores for understanding of sentences that contain contextual information and of those that do not, the SPIN Test provides a good measure of verbal auditory closure. Now that an
authorized
version of the revised SPIN Test is commercially available, it is appropriate to review published information about reported performance of different listener groups on this instrument and to propose additional research questions that deserve investigation.
Labelling and Discrimination of a Synthetic Fricative Continuum in Noise: A Study of Absolute Duration and Relative Onset Time Cues
Authors: Formby Craig , Childers Donald G. , Lalwani Ajit L.
Published: July 2014

Categorical perception was evaluated for a nine-token voice onset time (VOT) continuum with endpoint tokens /feil/-/veil/. The synthetic speech continuum was presented in a random-level noise masker at different signal-to-noise ratios (SNR=0, +6, +12 dB) and overall presentation levels (50 and 70 dB HL). Overall labelling performance deteriorated as the SNR was reduced. Labelling results for the +12-dB-SNR condition reflected a category boundary at 87 ms for listeners with normal hearing sensitivity. The companion two-step discrimination function revealed better-than-chance performance between pairs of tokens labelled
fail
, chance performance between pairs of tokens labelled
vail
, and a slight performance peak at the labelling boundary between
fail
and
vail
. Listeners with high-frequency audiometric deficits produced labelling results for the +12-dB-SNR condition that were similar to normal functions measured for the 0-dB-SNR condition. These listeners were unable to discriminate two-step differences in voicing duration, but they produced a normal temporal labelling boundary. To try to understand the noncategorical discrimination data, a psychoacoustic analog for the speech continuum was evaluated. Relative onset time (ROT) difference limens (DLs) were measured as a function of the temporal onset delay of a low-frequency sawtooth waveform relative to the onset of a high-frequency noise burst. The ROT cue was used only when absolute stimulus duration could not be relied upon as a consistent cue, under conditions where a large range of random overall duration was presented to the listener. The ROT DLs were relatively invariant over a range of standard delays from 50 to 110 ms. The average DL was about 30 ms, which is consistent with the small performance peak in the synthetic speech discrimination function.
Comparison of Voice Analysis Systems for Perturbation Measurement
Authors: Bielamowicz Steven , Kreiman Jody , Gerratt Bruce R. , Dauer Marc S. , Berke Gerald S.
Published: July 2014

Dysphonic voices are often analyzed using automated voice analysis software. However, the reliability of acoustic measures obtained from these programs remains unknown, particularly when they are applied to pathological voices. This study compared perturbation measures from CSpeech, Computerized Speech Laboratory, SoundScope, and a hand marking voice analysis system. Sustained vowels from 29 male and 21 female speakers with mild to severe dysphonia were digitized, and fundamental frequency (F
0
), jitter, shimmer, and harmonics- or signal-to-noise ratios were computed. Commercially available acoustical analysis programs agreed well, but not perfectly, in their measures of F
0
. Measures of perturbation in the various analysis packages use different algorithms, provide results in different units, and often yield values for voices that violate the assumption of quasi-periodicity. As a result, poor rank order correlations between programs using similar measures of perturbation were noted. Because measures of aperiodicity apparently cannot be reliably applied to voices that are even mildly aperiodic, we question their utility in quantifying vocal quality, especially in pathological voices.
A Subharmonic Vibratory Pattern in Normal Vocal Folds
Authors: Švec Jan G. , Schutte Harm K. , Miller Donald G.
Published: July 2014

This study observes in detail an F
0
/2 (sounding an octave below an original tone) subharmonic vibratory pattern produced in a normal larynx. Simultaneous electroglottographic and photoglottographic measurements reveal two different open phases within a subharmonic cycle—the first shorter with a simple shape, the second longer with a shape containing a “ripple.” Such parameters as the large open quotient (ca. 0.8) and the high airflow values (ca. 1000 cm
3
/s) distinguish this phonation from the vocal fry (pulse) register. Using an electronic divider to track the subharmonic frequency, a method has been developed to observe the subharmonic vibration of the vocal folds stroboscopically. The stroboscopic visualization reveals an unusual mucosal movement during the “ripple,” characterized by an opening movement of the upper margins, which interrupts the closing movement of the vocal folds. An explanation is offered that this vibratory pattern arises as a consequence of detuning of the usually identical frequencies of the dominant modes of the vocal folds, with 3:2 entrainment replacing the normal 1:1 pattern.
Phonetic Profiles of Toddlers With Specific Expressive Language Impairment (SLI-E)
Authors: Rescorla Leslie , Ratner Nan Bernstein
Published: July 2014

Spontaneous language samples of 30 24-month-old toddlers diagnosed with Specific Expressive Language Impairment (SLI-E) were compared with samples produced by an age-matched group of 30 typically developing toddlers. Vocalization patterns, phonetic inventories, and syllable formation patterns were compared. Toddlers with SLI-E vocalized significantly less often than their typically developing peers, had proportionately smaller consonantal and vowel inventories, and used a more restricted and less mature array of syllable shapes. Although the mean incidence of phoneme usage varied significantly in all comparisons, profiles of consonant usage were similar between the two groups for initial phoneme usage, but considerably different for final consonant closure. Such patterns of vocal and phonetic behavior confirm earlier reports of phonetic delay in SLI-E, and suggest that nongrammatical factors contribute to the development of expressive language deficits in toddlers. We further propose a bidirectional model for the expressive deficits in SLI-E, in which the child’s limited phonetic capacity interacts with propensities in caretaker interaction to further reduce opportunities for expressive language learning and practice.
Peaks in the Frequency Response of Hearing Aids: Evaluation of the Effects on Speech Intelligibility and Sound Quality
Authors: van Buuren Ronald A. , Festen Joost M. , Houtgast Tammo
Published: July 2014

In a series of experiments, we introduced peaks of 10, 20, and 30 dB, in various combinations, onto a smooth reference frequency response. For each of the conditions, we evaluated speech intelligibility in noise, using a test as developed by Plomp and Mimpen (1979), and sound quality (for both speech and music), using a rating-scale procedure. We performed the experiments with 26 listeners with sensorineurally impaired hearing and 10 listeners with normal hearing. Signal processing was accomplished digitally; for each listener, the stimuli were filtered and subsequently amplified so that the average speech spectrum was well above the threshold of hearing at all frequencies. The results show that, as a result of the introduction of peaks onto the frequency response, speech intelligibility is affected more for the listeners with impaired hearing than for those with normal hearing. Sound-quality judgments tend to be less different between the listener groups. Conditions with 30-dB peaks especially show serious effects on both speech intelligibility and sound quality.
Discriminability and Perceptual Weighting of Some Acoustic Cues to Speech Perception by 3-Year-Olds
Authors: Nittrouer Susan
Published: July 2014

Studies of children’s speech perception have shown that young children process speech signals differently than adults. Specifically, the relative contributions made by various acoustic parameters to some linguistic decisions seem to differ for children and adults. Such findings have led to the hypothesis that there is a developmental shift in the perceptual weighting of acoustic parameters that results from experience with a native language (i.e., the Developmental Weighting Shift). This developmental shift eventually leads the child to adopt the optimal perceptual weighting strategy for the native language being learned (i.e., one that allows the listener to make accurate decisions about the phonemic structure of his or her native language). Although this proposal has intuitive appeal, there is at least one serious challenge that can be leveled against it: Perhaps age-related differences inspeech perception can more appropriately be explained by age-related differences in basic auditory-processing abilities. That is, perhaps children are not as sensitive as adults to subtle differences in acoustic structure and so make linguistic decisions based on the acoustic information that is most perceptually salient. The present study tested this hypothesis for the acoustic cues relevant to fricative identity in fricative-vowel syllables. Results indicated that 3-year-olds were not as sensitive to changes in these acoustic cues as adults are, but that these age-related differences in auditory sensitivity could not entirely account for age-related differences in perceptual weighting strategies.
Assessment Information for Predicting Upcoming Change in Language Production
Authors: Olswang Lesley B. , Bain Barbara A.
Published: July 2014

Initial language assessments are used not only to determine the presence of a language problem and establish eligibility for intervention, but also to provide information about a child’s readiness for immediate change in language growth. This study explored static assessment profiling (specific variables and discrepancies in performance) and dynamic assessment results to determine their relative effectiveness for predicting immediate change. Correlation data were used to examine how well each assessment measure predicted upcoming language production changes for children with specific expressive language impairment. Results indicated that dynamic assessment outcomes were most highly correlated with immediate language growth, followed by discrepancy in receptive and expressive language age. Findings are discussed in terms of their clinical and theoretical importance.
Idiom Understanding in Australian Youth: A Cross-Cultural Comparison
Authors: Nippold Marilyn A. , Taylor Catherine L. , Baker Jennifer M.
Published: July 2014

In this developmental study, idiom understanding was examined in Australian students from Grades 5 and 8 (n= 50 per group; mean ages = 10:7 and 13:8, respectively). Twenty-four idioms with familiarity ratings ranging from high to low (as judged by Australian adolescents) were each presented in a brief story context. The students read each story and selected the best interpretation of the idiom from a set of four answer choices. Results indicated that performance on the task improved as a function of increasing grade level and that idiom familiarity was significantly correlated to idiom understanding for both groups of students. These results, which were consistent with a previous study of American students of comparable educational levels (Nippold & Taylor, 1995), provide further support for the “language experience” hypothesis of figurative language development. In replicating the previous developmental study, evidence of external validity is provided.
The Specific Relation Between Perception and Production Errors for Place of Articulation in Developmental Apraxia of Speech
Authors: Groenen Paul , Maassen Ben , Crul Thom , Thoonen Geert
Published: July 2014

Developmental apraxia of speech is a disorder of phonological and articulatory output processes. However, it has been suggested that perceptual deficits may contribute to the disorder. Identification and discrimination tasks offer a fine-grained assessment of central auditory and phonetic functions. Seventeen children with developmental apraxia (mean age 8:9, years:months) and 16 control children (mean age 8:0) were administered tests of identification and discrimination of resynthesized and synthesized monosyllabic words differing in place-of-articulation of the initial voiced stop consonants. The resynthetic and synthetic words differed in the intensity of the third formant, a variable potentially enlarging their clinical value. The results of the identification task showed equal slopes for both subject groups, which indicates no phonetic processing deficit in developmental apraxia of speech. The hypothesized effect of the manipulation of the intensity of the third formant of the stimuli was not substantiated. However, the children with apraxia demonstrated poorer discrimination than the control children, which suggests affected auditory processing. Furthermore, analyses of discrimination performance and articulation data per apraxic subject demonstrated a specific relation between the degree to which auditory processing is affected and the frequency of place-of-articulation substitutions in production. This indicates the interdependence of perception and production. The results also suggest that the use of perceptual tasks has significant clinical value.
Perioral Muscle Activity in Young and Older Adults During Speech and Nonspeech Tasks
Authors: Wohlert Amy B.
Published: July 2014

Correlations of EMG activity among paired sites surrounding the lips were examined as a measure of muscle coupling during oral movements. Twenty-two young women (
M
=22 years old) and 22 older women (
M
=75 years old) performed lip protrusion, chewing, conversational speech, and reading aloud tasks. Surface EMG was recorded from the right and left sides of both the upper and lower lips during 20 s of task performance. Signals from each site, representing the sum of activity from muscle fibers present in the underlying tissue, were correlated with signals from every other site. Positive correlations were pervasive, but the range of values extended from .96 to -. 19. Correlation values tended to be high across the upper lip and across the lower lip, regardless of the task. Other sites (right side, left side, and diagonal pairs) were also highly correlated for the protrusion and chewing tasks, but were less highly correlated for the speech tasks. Younger women showed significantly lower correlation values for speech tasks than older women. Results imply an increase in muscle coupling for speech as an effect of the aging process, perhaps reflecting a reduction in flexibility of fine oral motor control. Limits of the correlation technique and issues concerning speech production ability in old age are discussed.
Aerodynamic Mechanisms Underlying Treatment-Related Changes in Vocal Intensity in Patients With Parkinson Disease
Authors: Ramig Lorraine Olson , Dromey Christopher
Published: July 2014

The purpose of this study was to document changes in aerodynamic and glottographic aspects of vocal function in patients with Parkinson disease who received two forms of high effort treatment. Previous reports (Ramig, Countryman, Thompson, & Horii, 1995) have documented increased sound pressure level (SPL) following treatment that trained phonation and respiration (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment: LSVT), but not for treatment that trained respiration only (R). In order to examine the mechanisms underlying these differences, measures of maximum flow declination rate (MFDR) and estimated subglottal pressure (Psub) were made before and after treatment. A measure of relative vocal fold adduction (EGGW) was made from the electroglottographic signal during sustained vowel phonation. Sound pressure level data from syllable repetition, sustained vowel phonation, reading, and monologue tasks were also analyzed to allow a more detailed understanding of treatment-related change in several contexts. Consistent with increases in SPL, significant increases in MFDR, estimated Psub, and EGGW were measured posttreatment in patients who received the LSVT. Similar changes were not observed following R treatment. These findings suggest that the combination of increased vocal fold adduction and subglottal pressure is a key in generating posttreatment increases in vocal intensity in idiopathic Parkinson disease (IPD).
A Controlled Clinical Trial for Stuttering in Persons Aged 9 to 14 Years
Authors: Craig Ashley , Hancock Karen , Chang Esther , McCready Chris , Shepley Alison , McCaul Annette , Costello Deborah , Harding Shanne , Kehren Roberta , Masel Catherine , Reilly Karen
Published: July 2014

This paper presents the results of a controlled trial of child stuttering treatment. The aim of the study was, first, to compare the effectiveness of three viable treatments, and, second, to compare these three treatments to a no-treatment control composed of children who stuttered of a similar age and sex ratio who were on treatment waiting lists. The three treatments investigated included intensive smooth speech, intensive electromyography feedback, and home-based smooth speech. The children/adolescents were assessed across three speaking contexts on measures of percentage syllables stuttered (%SS) and syllables spoken per minute (SPM) and outcomes were assessed 12 months later. Repeated measures analyses of variance demonstrated significant differences between the control group and all three treatment groups across time on conversations in the clinic, on the telephone, and at home (although home measures were not taken for the intensive smooth speech group). Although the controls' stuttering did not change across time, the treatment groups' stuttering was decreased to very low levels posttreatment (less than 1% syllables stuttered on average), with mean improvement in stuttering frequency of at least 85% to 90% across all assessment contexts. Stuttering did not increase significantly up to 3 months and one year posttreatment in the experimental groups, although levels did rise across time (less than 3% syllables stuttered on average). Speech naturalness results showed increasing naturalness across time as rated by the clinician and parent. This was not the case for the controls. The children were also less anxious across time following treatment. The results suggest that all three treatments for children aged 9–14 who stutter were very successful in the long term for over 70% of the group, though the EMG feedback and home-based treatments were superior when percentages falling below a cutoff point (2%SS) were used to discriminate between groups. Implications for child/adolescent treatment in the community are discussed. Long-term outcomes will be assessed up to 5 years after the treatment.
Role of F0and Amplitude in the Perception of Intervocalic Glottal Stops
Authors: Hillenbrand James M. , Houde Robert A.
Published: July 2014

Glottal stops that occur in vowel-consonant-vowel context are often not realized as stops at all, but rather show voicing that is continuous throughout the glottal constriction gesture. Glottal articulations that are realized in this way are apparently marked by reductions in amplitude and fundamental frequency. In the present study measurements from naturally produced utterances containing the sequence /o2o/ (i.e., a glottal stop separating two identical vowels) were used to create a set of synthetic stimuli that varied in their F0and amplitude contours. The utterances were resynthesized in six ways: (a) original pitch/original amplitude, (b) original pitch/flat amplitude, (c) flat pitch/original amplitude, (d) flat pitch/flat amplitude, (e) flat pitch/inverted amplitude, and (f) inverted pitch/flat amplitude. Results indicated that: (a) a dip in the pitch contour is nearly always sufficient to cue the presence of a glottal stopin the absence of any drop in amplitude, (b) a dip in the amplitude contour is usually sufficient to cue the presence of a glottal stop, and (c) signals with inverted contours were not heard as glottal stops, indicating that it is not merely an abrupt change that is needed to signal a glottal stop.
Precision of Tympanometric Measurements
Authors: Gaihede Michael , Ovesen Therese
Published: July 2014

In both scientific and clinical investigations, precision of instruments is demanded. Precision of tympanometric measures has been reported in the literature rarely, and studies are generally not comparable. This study introduces a new method of determining precision of tympanometric variables. Forty-three participants in good health were investigated. Static compliance, middle ear pressure, and gradient were recorded in a test-retest design. Plots of test versus retest measurements were constructed for each variable, after which differences between measurements were plotted against their means. The standard deviation of the distribution of differences provides a measure of precision: the
coefficient of repeatability
. Static compliance showed a significant disagreement between measurements; hence repeatability was poor, which can be explained by preconditioning of the tympanic membrane. Middle ear pressure and gradient showed good agreement between measurements, and comparable measures of precision are reported. The method is simple and based on two repeated measurements in each subject; the design is ethical and practical in clinical investigations.
Training and Generalized Production of
wh
- and NP-Movement Structures in Agrammatic Aphasia
Authors: Thompson Cynthia K. , Shapiro Lewis P. , Ballard Kirrie J. , Jacobs Beverly J. , Schneider Sandra S. , Tait Mary E.
Published: July 2014

The present research examines production of "complex" sentences, which involve movement of noun phrases (NPs), in 2 agrammatic aphasic subjects. According to linguistic theory (Chomsky, 1991, 1993), such sentences are derived using one of two movement operations, either
wh
- or NP-movement, subsumed under the general rule "move alpha." In this experiment recovery of both
wh
- and NP-movement derived sentences was investigated using a treatment research paradigm. Subjects were sequentially trained to produce either
wh
-movement (i.e.,
who
questions, object clefts) or NP-movement (i.e., passives, subject-raising structures) derived sentences. Throughout training, generalization to untrained sentences relying on both types of movement was tested. The influence of training on aspects of narrative discourse also was examined. Results showed generalization patterns constrained to type of movement: Training
wh
-movement structures resulted in generalized production of untrained
wh
-movement structures without influencing production of NP-movement structures. Similarly, training of NP-movement structures resulted in generalization only to other sentence types also relying on NP-movement. Aspects of sentence production in narrative contexts also was improved with treatment. These data indicate that movement to an argument (A) position as in NP-movement is distinct from movement to a nonargument (A-bar) position, required in
wh
-movement. The site where movement terminates in the s-structure of noncanonical sentences appears to influence sentence production. These findings show that linguistic properties of sentences influence sentence production breakdown and recovery in aphasia.
Developmental Apraxia of Speech
Authors: Shriberg Lawrence D. , Aram Dorothy M. , Kwiatkowski Joan
Published: July 2014

Developmental apraxia of speech (DAS)
is a putative diagnostic category for children whose speech errors presumedly (a) differ from the errors of children with developmental
speech delay (SD)
and (b) resemble the errors of adults with acquired apraxia of speech. The studies reported in this series (Shriberg, Aram, & Kwiatkowski, 1997a, 1997b) concern both premises, with primary focus on the first—that children with DAS can be differentiated from children with SD on the basis of one or more reliable differences in their speech error profiles. Immediate goals are to identify a diagnostic marker for DAS and to consider implications for research and clinical practice. A long-term goal is to identify the phenotype marker for DAS, on the assumption that it may be a genetically transmitted disorder. This first paper reviews relevant descriptive and theoretical perspectives. Findings from a local ascertainment study support the clinical functionality of the term
suspected
DAS.
Reducing Bias in Language Assessment
Authors: Campbell Thomas , Dollaghan Chris , Needleman Herbert , Janosky Janine
Published: July 2014

One potential solution to the problem of eliminating bias in language assessment is to identify valid measures that are not affected by subjects' prior knowledge or experience. In this study, 156 randomly selected school-age boys (31% majority; 69% minority) participated in three “processing-dependent” language measures, designed to minimize the contributions of prior knowledge on performance, and one traditional “knowledge-dependent” language test. As expected, minority subjects obtained significantly lower scores than majority participants on the knowledge-dependent test, but the groups did not differ on any of the processingdependent measures. These results suggest that processing-dependent measures hold considerable promise for distinguishing between children with language disorders, whose poor language performance reflects fundamental psycholinguistic deficits, and children with language differences attributable to differing experiential backgrounds.
A Preliminary Investigation of the Effects of Gender and Race on Voice Onset Time
Authors: Ryalls John , Zipprer Allison , Baldauff Penelope
Published: July 2014

Twenty individuals participated in a study of Voice Onset Time (VOT) production. Participants included equal numbers of males and females and equal numbers of African Americans and Caucasian Americans. Each individual read a set of stimuli formed from the six stop consonants (/p/, /t/, /k/; /b/, /d/, /g/) combined with the three vowels /i/, /α/, and /u/. Their productions were measured for VOT. Considerably more prevoicing (i.e., negative VOT) for voiced stops was found in the present study in comparison with past studies. Statistically significant differences were found for both gender and race. These results suggest that the normative data presently available is probably inadequate because it does not accurately reflect the normal distribution of either gender or race within the American population.
Acoustic Cues to Place of Articulation and the McGurk Effect
Authors: Green Kerry P. , Norrix Linda W.
Published: July 2014

The McGurk effect demonstrates that the perceived place of articulation of an auditory consonant (such as /bi/) can be influenced by the simultaneous presentation of a videotape of a talker saying a conflicting consonant such as /gi/. Usually, such a presentation is perceived by observers as “di” or “ð” (known as fusion responses). The reverse pairing (auditory /gi/ paired with a visual /bi/) results in “bgi” percepts. These are known as combination responses. In the current study, three experiments examined how acoustic information about place of articulation contained within the release bursts, aspiration, and voiced formants and transitions of a consonant contribute to the McGurk effect. In the first experiment, the release bursts and aspiration were deleted from the acoustic signal. This manipulation resulted in a smaller impact on McGurk “fusion” tokens relative to the McGurk “combination” tokens. This asymmetry may be related to the perceptual salience of the release bursts and aspiration for velar compared to the bilabial tokens used in this experiment and their importance for obtaining the combination percept. In Experiment 2, the release bursts and aspiration were increased in amplitude. Results revealed either no effect or a stronger McGurk effect for the manipulated tokens than for the intact tokens. This finding suggests that the McGurk effect for fusion tokens does not occur simply because the release bursts and aspiration are weak. In Experiment 3, low-pass filtering the second and higher formants and transitions was associated with the largest overall impact on the McGurk effect. This suggests that dynamic information contained within these formants is of primary importance in obtaining the McGurk effect. These cues are, however, context-dependent and vary as a function of talker and vowel context.
Age of Second-Language Acquisition and Perception of Speech in Noise
Authors: Mayo Lynn Hansberry , Florentine Mary , Buus Søren
Published: July 2014

To determine how age of acquisition influences perception of second-language speech, the Speech Perception in Noise (SPIN) test was administered to native Mexican-Spanish-speaking listeners who learned fluent English before age 6 (early bilinguals) or after age 14 (late bilinguals) and monolingual American-English speakers (monolinguals). Results show that the levels of noise at which the speech was intelligible were significantly higher and the benefit from context was significantly greater for monolinguals and early bilinguals than for late bilinguals. These findings indicate that learning a second language at an early age is important for the acquisition of efficient high-level processing of it, at least in the presence of noise.
Grammatical Deficits in Italian-Speaking Children With Specific Language Impairment
Authors: Bortolini Umberta , Caselli Maria Cristina , Leonard Laurence B.
Published: July 2014

In earlier work, Italian-speaking children with specific language impairment (SLI) have been shown to exhibit a profile of grammatical morpheme difficulties that is quite different from the profile seen for English-speaking children with SLI. In the present study, this difference was confirmed using a wider range of grammatical morpheme types. A group of Italian-speaking children with SLI produced articles and third person plural verb inflections with lower percentages in obligatory contexts than a group of age controls and a group of younger controls matched for mean length of utterance (MLU). However, the children with SLI closely resembled the MLU controls in their production of noun plural inflections, third person copula forms, first person singular and plural verb inflections, and third person singular verb inflections. Errors on articles and copula forms were usually omissions whereas errors on verb inflections were usually productions of inappropriate finite inflections. Infinitives were seen in contexts requiring finite forms but they were not the dominant error type. Data from comprehension tasks raise the possibility that production factors were responsible for some of the differences seen. The findings of this study suggest that accounts of SLI are incomplete unless they assign a major role to the relative ease of identifying and interpreting the relevant data in the ambient language. The implications of these findings for current accounts of SLI are discussed.
The Response to Sudden Change in Vocal Tract Resistance During Stop Consonant Production
Authors: Kim Jong-Ryoul , Zajac David J. , Warren Donald W. , Mayo Robert , Essick Greg K.
Published: July 2014

The speech respiratory system is configured in ways that tend to maximize its ability to respond to changes in the airway environment. Intraoral pressures remain at levels sufficient to generate reliably recognized consonant sounds even in the presence of structural deficits such as velopharyngeal inadequacy. Similar respiratory compensations occur when bite blocks and bleed valves are used to vent airway pressures. The purpose of the present study was to determine the sensitivity of the monitoring system psychophysically and to assess its physiological response to sudden, unanticipated perturbations. Twenty adults were asked to produce the utterance /pa/, and a calibrated perturbator valve permitted air to escape from the oral cavity on randomly selected productions. Respiratory responses were recorded using PERCI-SARS instrumentation. The results indicated that sudden openings of 0.14 cm
2
(
SD
= 0.04) were detected by speakers. Compensatory respiratory responses to suprathreshold pressure-venting occurred rapidly (i.e., 27 ms [
SD
= 8]) after valve opening. Although peak pressure and area under the pressure pulse fell with valve opening, the magnitude of pressure was nevertheless sufficient for sound generation. Measurements of the slope of the rise in intraoral pressure after subthreshold pressure-venting in 10 participants were compared to measurements obtained from an elastic model of the upper airway. The data demonstrated a significant difference between vented and unvented conditions for the model, but not the participants. This suggests that elastic recoil is actively and unconsciously controlled in humans to compensate for losses in airway pressure during speech.
Interspeaker Variation in Habitual Speaking Rate
Authors: Tsao Ying-Chiao , Weismer Gary
Published: July 2014

Neuromuscular and sociolinguistic hypotheses were proposed to explore and account for the nature of individuals’ idiosyncratic speech rates. One hundred subjects (50 males and 50 females) read the Farm Script passage at both habitual and maximum rates. FAST and SLOW subgroups of subjects were selected for both genders based on their overall speaking rates. The articulation rate data derived from 30 selected subjects (SLOW and FAST) revealed the following findings: (a) a significant linear regression function existed between the habitual and maximum rates, (b) significantly different maximum rates were found for the SLOW and the FAST groups, (c) roughly equivalent relative changes from habitual to maximum rate for both SLOW and FAST groups. No significant gender differences were found across different speech tasks and measures of speech rates. The weight of the evidence seems to suggest that neuromuscular constraints play a role in the determination of an individual’s habitual speaking rate. Nevertheless, the study did not suggest that either neuromuscular hypotheses or sociolinguistic hypotheses
alone
can account for the control of individuals’ speaking rates due to the unusual ability demonstrated by a few subjects in the SLOW group, to speak at very fast maximum rates.
Miniature Head-Mounted Microphone for Voice Perturbation Analysis
Authors: Winholtz William S. , Titze Ingo R.
Published: July 2014

The miniature head-mounted microphone has become the microphone of choice in clinics, laboratories, and professional work settings where voice amplification or recording is needed and subject mobility is desirable. In this study, a miniature head-mounted condenser microphone was compared to a larger, professional grade stand-mounted condenser microphone for perturbation analysis. Amplitude and frequency perturbation measures of human phonation were made for comparison. The results indicate that only small differences exist between the two microphones. The only exception is when there is significant head movement, in which case the head-mounted microphone offers an advantage. Errors associated with variable source-to-microphone distance can therefore be reduced without losing baseline quality in transducing voice signals for analysis.
A System for Three-Dimensional Visualization of Human Jaw Motion in Speech
Authors: Guiard-Marigny Thierry , Ostry David J.
Published: July 2014

With the development of precise three-dimensional motion measurement systems and powerful computers for three-dimensional graphical visualization, it is possible to record and fully reconstruct human jaw motion. In this paper, we describe a visualization system for displaying three-dimensional jaw movements in speech. The system is designed to take as input jaw motion data obtained from one or multi-dimensional recording systems. In the present application, kinematic records of jaw motion were recorded using an optoelectronic measurement system (Optotrak). The corresponding speech signal was recorded using an analog input channel. The three orientation angles and three positions that describe the motion of the jaw as a rigid skeletal structure were derived from the empirical measurements. These six kinematic variables, which in mechanical terms account fully for jaw motion kinematics, act as inputs that drive a real-time three-dimensional animation of a skeletal jaw and upper skull. The visualization software enables the user to view jaw motion from any orientation and to change the viewpoint during the course of an utterance. Selected portions of an utterance may be replayed and the speed of the visual display may be varied. The user may also display, along with the audio track, individual kinematic degrees of freedom or several degrees of freedom in combination. The system is presently being used as an educational tool and for research into audio-visual speech recognition. Interested researchers may obtain the software and source code free of charge from the authors.
COAE Thresholds
Authors: Fitzgerald Tracy S. , Prieve Beth A.
Published: July 2014

Although research has demonstrated that click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (COAEs) elicited by high-level stimuli are useful for identifying hearing loss, the ability of COAEs to predict behavioral thresholds has not been adequately tested. Results of studies comparing COAE thresholds and behavioral thresholds have been equivocal, perhaps due to the need for a more rigorous approach to COAE threshold estimation. The present study was designed to address several methodological concerns in COAE threshold testing, particularly the effects of two methods of stimulus presentation on COAE testing and threshold calculation. In an attempt to make COAE threshold estimation consistent across participants, COAE threshold calculations were based on mean noise floor levels across participants. COAE and noise floor levels were measured in 15 participants using both equal-amplitude clicks and a subtraction method. Broadband COAEs were analyzed into 1/3 octave bands, so that input/output functions could be examined and COAE thresholds could be calculated for each 1/3 octave band. Comparison of the two stimulus methods indicated several differences. Mean noise floor levels for the equal-amplitude method were approximately 6 dB lower than those measured for the subtraction method across frequency. In many cases COAEs evoked using the equal-amplitude method were higher in amplitude than those evoked using the subtraction method. COAE thresholds measured using the equal-amplitude click stimuli were significantly lower than those measured using the subtraction method. The significantly higher thresholds obtained using the subtraction method may be attributed in part to the reduction of COAE amplitude by the subtraction procedure, and not merely to the higher noise level. Slopes of the input/output functions were not significantly different between the two stimulus methods. These results suggest that the equal-amplitude method is preferable for COAE threshold testing because lower noise floor and larger amplitude COAEs may be obtained in the same test time.
Effects of Age, Speech Rate, and Type of Test on Temporal Auditory Processing
Authors: Vaughan Nancy E. , Letowski Tomasz
Published: July 2014

Cognitive slowing that accompanies aging may be reflected in temporal aspects of auditory processing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of age, type of test, and rate of speech on temporal auditory processing. Listeners were divided into three groups: young (25- to 35-year-olds), middle aged (45- to 55-year-olds), and older (65- to 75-year-olds). A method of time compression known as Synchronized Overlap Add (SOLA) was used to increase the rate of speech. This method provides a high-quality speech signal and limits the distortions that may confound the temporal effects on time-compressed tests of speech intelligibility. Listeners performed four speech understanding tasks: sentence repetition, sentence intelligibility rating, connected discourse intelligibility rating, and connected discourse comprehension question and answers at three timecompression rates (60%, 70%, and 80%). Although the older group performed more poorly on all tests, only the connected discourse intelligibility rating test was sensitive to age differences among all three groups. This difference did not appear to increase with rate increases but was present only at the 70% compression rate. In addition, variability was especially high in the oldest group of participants.
Gap Detection as a Function of Stimulus Loudness for Listeners With and Without Hearing Loss
Authors: Nelson Peggy B. , Thomas Susan Dwyer
Published: July 2014

Temporal resolution, or the ability to process rapidly changing stimuli, has been purported to be reduced in some listeners with hearing loss while being described as normal in others. Ensuring stimulus audibility by increasing stimulus levels results in near-normal temporal resolution abilities for many listeners with hearing loss, but may also result in uncomfortably loud stimulus levels. The current study was conducted to describe temporal resolution abilities of listeners with and without hearing loss as a function of stimulus loudness. The gap detection abilities of 8 listeners with normal hearing were compared with those of 8 listeners with mild to moderate hearing losses over a wide range of intensities using a 650-Hz wide high-frequency noise marker. At low intensities, listeners with hearing loss show poor gap detection ability. As intensity increases, most listeners’ performance improves and stabilizes near normal at high loudness and sensation levels. At comfortable loudness, gap detection abilities of listeners with hearing loss are less than at loud levels and are considerably poorer than normal.
Stability and Patterning of Speech Movement Sequences in Children and Adults
Authors: Smith Anne , Goffman Lisa
Published: July 2014

Children (aged 4 and 7 years) and young adults produced a six-syllable utterance 15 times. The displacement of the lower lip was recorded with an Optotrak system and analyzed in a number of ways. First, using a procedure recently developed in our laboratory, displacement records from the 15 repetitions were amplitude- and time-normalized, and the spatiotemporal index (the STI) was computed. The STI reflects the degree to which repeated performance of a task produces movement trajectories that converge on a single pattern. Children produced less stable movement trajectories, as reflected in higher values on the STI. In a second analysis, standard measurements of amplitude and peak velocity were made for two opening and two closing lip movements. These measures suggested that, relative to the size of their oral structures, children have large movement ranges in speech. Also, children tend to move with a lower peak velocity. This large-amplitude, low-velocity movement style may reflect different underlying control processes. Finally, another analysis focused on open-close movement sequences associated with two words of the utterance. A patternrecognition algorithm applied to the normalized waveforms from the open-close sequences revealed that children and adults produced equally distinctive movement trajectories for the two syllables. Taken together, these preliminary results suggest that nonlinear and nonuniform changes occur in components of the speech motor system during development.
Hearing Loss, Control, and Demographic Factors Influencing Hearing Aid Use Among Older Adults
Authors: Garstecki Dean C. , Erler Susan F.
Published: July 2014

Preference for non-use of hearing aids among older adults who are candidates for amplification remains to be explained. Clinical studies have examined the contribution of consumer attitudes, behaviors, and life circumstances to this phenomenon. The present study extends the interests of earlier investigators in that it examines psychological control tendencies in combination with hearing loss and demographic variables among older adults who elected to accept (adherents) or ignore (nonadherents) advice from hearing professionals to acquire and use hearing aids. One hundred thirty-one individuals participated by completing measures of hearing, hearing handicap, psychological control, depression, and ego strength. Participants were asked to provide demographic information and personal opinions regarding hearing aid use. Adherence group and gender differences were noted on measures of hearing sensitivity, psychological control, and demographic factors. Female adherents demonstrated greater hearing loss and poorer word recognition ability but less hearing handicap, higher internal locus of control, higher ego strength, and fewer depressive tendencies than female nonadherents. They reported demographic advantages. Female adherents assumed responsibility for effective communication. Although male adherents and nonadherents did not differ significantly demographically, male adherents were more accepting of their hearing loss, took responsibility for communication problems, and found hearing aids less stigmatizing. Implications for clinical practice and future clinical investigations are identified and discussed. Results are expected to be of interest to clinicians, clinical investigators, and health care policymakers.
Socioeconomic Status and Gender Influences on Children's Dialectal Variations
Authors: Washington Julie A. , Craig Holly K.
Published: July 2014

This investigation compares dialect use by African American children differing in socioeconomic status (SES) and gender. Subjects were 5- and 6-year-old boys (n= 30) and girls (n= 36), who were kindergartners attending schools in the Metropolitan Detroit area. Comparisons of the amount of dialect in the children's spontaneous discourse revealed systematic differences relative to SES and gender in the frequencies but not the forms of dialect in use. Children from lower-income homes, and boys, were more marked dialect users than their middle-class peers or girls. The sociolinguistic implications of the findings are discussed.
Guidelines for Documentation of Treatment Efficacy for Young Children Who Stutter
Authors: Ingham Janis Costello , Riley Glyndon
Published: July 2014

The pressing need to document treatment efficacy for young children who stutter is discussed. Guidelines for such documentation are suggested and illustrated. Measures for verifying treatment effects in four realms are delineated: (a) conditions of documentation, (b) dependent variables to be measured, (c) establishment of treatment integrity, and (d) verification of the relationship between treatment and outcome. Illustrations of the application of the suggested guidelines are presented for 2 children.