bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Factor Analytic Study of Three Signal Detection Abilities
Authors: Harris J. Donald
Published: July 2014

This factor analytic study represents an expanded effort toward stating clearly the simplicity or complexity of signal detection ability. Nineteen different tests of signal detection were constructed and administered twice under controlled conditions to 71 normal-hearing young men, together with six ‘tag’ tests of discriminations for pitch and loudness. As a check, a single administration of the battery under somewhat less well-controlled conditions was given to 760 young men in groups of up to 50. The results of this and previous factor analytic studies of signal detection lead to the conclusion that a Speech Masking Factor, a Loudness Masking Factor and a Complex Noise Masking Factor explain most if not all the variance in any number of signal detection tasks. Generally low intercorrelations among tests of signal detection result not from a factorially complex domain but from the generally low unreliability of many such tests.
On Phonemic Analysis of Speech Discrimination Tests
Authors: Tobias Jerry V.
Published: July 2014

Recent misinterpretations of split-list discrimination test research: Grubb, Patti, A phonetic analysis of half-list speech discrimination tests. J. Speech Hearing Res., 6, 271‰275 (1963) and Grubb, Patti, Some considerations in the use of half-list speech discrimination test. J. Speech Hearing Res., 6, 294‰297 (1963) are discussed.
Cumulative Effects of Repeated Exposure to High-Intensity Tones Upon Recovery of Auditory Sensitivity
Authors: Bragg Vernon C.
Published: July 2014

Twenty subjects with normal hearing were subjected to four series of twenty one-minute exposures of a 3 000 cps tone. Each series of exposure tones was presented at one of four sound pressure levels: 85 dB, 90 dB, 95 dB, or 100 dB above 0.0002 microbar. The time required for threshold for a 4 500 cps pulsed tone to recover to within 20 dB and 10 dB of pre-exposure level was measured after each one-minute exposure. The pattern of recovery times indicated that (a) there is a critical intensity (95 dB in the present conditions) below which adaptation is evoked and above which cumulative fatigue results from exposure, and (b) cumulative fatigue holds more promise than adaptation in the development of a noise-susceptibility test.
Effect of Word Frequency and Word Length on Aphasic Spelling Errors
Authors: Bricker Amy L. , Schuell Hildred , Jenkins James J.
Published: July 2014

The Wide Range Achievement Spelling Test was administered to 64 aphasic subjects. Total errors on each of the 100 test words and errors made by subjects in each quartile were analyzed in relation to the logarithm of word frequency, and word length determined by number of letters. Both word length and word frequency were found to be significant variables in determining the spelling performance of aphasic subjects. Word frequency and word length were negatively correlated, and accounted almost completely for the errors on the test words in all segments of the population.
Word Length and Discrimination Behavior of Aphasics
Authors: Cohen Judy G. , Edwards Allan E.
Published: July 2014

This study was undertaken to investigate the phenomenon of the adverse effect of word length on the discrimination behavior of aphasics. Ten aphasics and 10 age-and-sex matched controls were assessed on 312 match-to-sample tasks using automated techniques. A mixed factorial design permitted the stimuli to be presented in 36 different combinations. Three hypotheses were explored: unreliable scanning behavior, the meaning and pronounceability of the discriminanda, and the ability to discriminate amongst perceptual noise. The latter was found to be the only variable which had an adverse effect on the aphasic’s discrimination.
Auditory Perceptual Thresholds in Brain-Injured Children
Authors: Grey Howard A. , D’Asaro Michael J. , Sklar Maurice
Published: July 2014

This study investigated the effects of congenital brain injury alone, or in combination with sensori-neural hearing loss, upon figure-ground thresholds for spondees in young children.

Forty-eight subjects were selected from four diagnostic categories: (1) brain injured, normally hearing; (2) brain-injured, hearing-handicapped, (3) non-brain-injured, normally hearing; and (4) non-brain-injured, hearing-handicapped. Brain-injured and non-brain-injured subjects were matched for pure-tone thresholds. Selected spondees were presented bilaterally, first in quiet then in a background of white noise.

Results indicated no effect upon speech thresholds by brain injury, and no apparent interaction between brain injury and hearing impairment.
A Study of Language Disabilities in Cerebral Palsied Children
Authors: Myers Patricia
Published: July 2014

Sixty-eight spastic, 24 athetoid, and 32 normal children were administered the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities to determine whether this instrument would distinguish among the groups. Non-language variables, such as age, cognitive ability, and social experience were controlled, and the data were subjected to factor analysis, analysis of variance, and discriminant analysis. Significant differences were found, favoring the spastic group on ITPA tests at the automatic-sequential level of language and the athetoid group on ITPA tests at the representational level. The scores for the normal group were uniformly higher than the scores of the cerebral palsied groups and separated the normal group from the other two groups.
The Performance of Aphasics on Automated Visuo-Perceptual Discrimination, Training, and Transfer Tasks
Authors: Rosenberg Beth
Published: July 2014

The ability of 24 aphasics to make the perceptualdiscriminations, presumed to be basic to reading, was assessed and trained in automated fashion. Five training programs utilized forms abstracted as those necessary to compose the symbols of the English (Modern European) alphabet, and employed them in shape, up-down, and right-left discrimination tasks. A verbal transfer test was composed of sets of words, nonsense syllables, and individual letters. Data from the aphasic patients indicated that the training programs were effective in improving the latency of the discrimination response and that this improvement was manifested in general transfer to verbal test items. Training and transfer gains were maintained for at least a week after training. The results are interpreted as offering support for the view that form discrimination is a basic factor in at least the visual verbal aspect of language behavior. They also indicate that it is possible to design effective automated training procedures for use with patients who have frequently been considered untrainable.
Effect of the Acoustic Reflex on the Impedance at the Eardrum
Authors: Feldman Alan S. , Zwislocki Jozef
Published: July 2014

Seventeen ears of 12 subjects with normal hearing were tested in both a laboratory and a clinical setting to study impedance changes in normal human ears associated with the acoustic reflex. Compliance and resistance at the eardrum were measured with middle ear muscles relaxed and contracted by means of a contralateral noise stimulus, respectively.

The reflex induced impedance changes were compared to similar impedance data obtained by other investigators, and to typical otosclerotic impedance values. The reflex is shown to affect the impedance by a decrease in compliance and a slight decrease in resistance.
Analysis of Evoked and Ongoing Electrical Activity at the Scalp of Human Subjects
Authors: Teas Donald C.
Published: July 2014

Electrical activity at two locations on the scalp (Vertex and Vertex-3 cm, midline) for an experimental design suitable to clinical application, was recorded on magnetic tape. Data from 5 subjects with normal hearing, for 3 testing days, were processed. Average evoked responses to bursts of wide-band noise (30 dB and 50 dB SL) for two conditions (“eyes closed” and “reading”) were computed. The ongoing background activity was processed by computing its interval histogram. The percentage of ongoing activity within the frequency range 1.5 cps to 17 cps was extracted, and the magnitude of the N
1
-P
2
component of average responses was measured. These measures at the two electrode sites were analyzed by calculating analyses of variance for each of the four sets of data. Percentage of low-frequency background activity and N
1
-P
2
magnitude were positively related only for Day 1. A strong habituation effect appeared for Day 2 and Day 3. Habituation reduced differences between the two conditions and also differences between the two signal strengths for the average responses. Maximum N
1
-P
2
magnitude should be recorded for a single test with the subject relaxed and with his “eyes closed.” For repeated testing a discrimination between signals should be required to offset the attenuation of responses by habituation.
A Physiological Theory of Phonetics
Authors: Peterson Gordon E. , Shoup June E.
Published: July 2014

This paper presents a phonetic theory based on physiological parameters. The motivation for and requirements of a phonetic theory are first considered. The theory assumes, without restatement, various known facts from physical and biological science. Certain essential components of the speech mechanism are defined in a set of preliminary definitions. Assumptions about the actions of the vocal mechanism which directly underlie the theory are next presented in a set of axioms. Following the axioms is an extensive set of definitions that specifies the concepts of phonetics and their relationships. A phonetic chart presents the various physiological speech parameters and their values. These parameters include the primary and secondary phonetic parameters and the prosodic parameters. The chart includes a phonetic diagram which presents a basic phonetic symbolization according to the values of the primary parameters. Secondary parameters implicit in the symbols of the diagram are shown in a second chart. The individual parameter values for the various parameters are next defined. The article presents a basic theory of the parameter values and the dynamics of speech production, and also presents a systematic symbolization for descriptive phonetics.
The Effectiveness of Group and Individual Therapy
Authors: Sommers Ronald K. , Schaeffer Morton H. , Leiss Robert H. , Gerber Adele J. , Bray Mary Ann , Fundrella Dolores , Olson Janice K. , Tomkins Elizabeth R.
Published: July 2014

Articulation therapy was administered to 240 children by 17 speech clinicians working in a suburban school system. Articulation testing was completed both before and after an eight and one-half months' treatment period. Group therapy was found to be as effective as individual therapy, regardless of the severity of speech defectiveness or grade levels of the children.
On the Nature of Vocal Fry
Authors: Hollien Harry , Moore Paul , Wendahl Ronald W. , Michel John F.
Published: July 2014

Statements are made concerning the nature of vocal fry. They are presented in order to provide a descriptive framework that may be useful for further study of this vocal phenomenon.
Self-Administered Procedures in Changing Pronunciation Dialect
Authors: Hurst Charles G. , Black John W. , Singh Sadanand
Published: July 2014

Improvement in intelligibility and in general merit of speaking was demonstrated among 88 speakers of four groups who used the Self-Administered Intelligibility Testing-Training Unit programmed with multiple-choice intelligibility test material. These findings were demonstrated by the higher intelligibility scores and merit ratings for words spoken late in a one-hour instructional session relative to ones spoken early. The intelligibility and merit scores were assigned by panels of listeners representing three racial groups.
A Simplified Instrument for Pure-Tone Delayed Auditory Feedback
Authors: Lewis Arthur N. , Sipr Vladimir
Published: July 2014

Modified instrumentation for pure-tone delayed auditory feedback (DAF) is described. This equipment, which achieves considerable simplification over previous designs, retains tapping-pressure changes as an indication of performance disruption under DAF. A specially constructed key unit serves to connect a pure-tone signal to an earphone through a tape recorder fitted with separate record and playback heads. The key-tapping unit also incorporates a pressure transducer (carbon granules capsule) which acts as one arm of a wheatstone pseudobridge. Hence resistance changes in the balance of the bridge are converted to stylus deflections on a graphic recorder.
The Effects of Three Types of Stimulation on Articulatory Responses of Speech Defective Children
Authors: Smith Myrna W. , Ainsworth Stanley
Published: July 2014

An analysis was made of the effects of three methods of stimulation on the responses elicited from the first grade school children. Forty children (25 males and 15 females) who had defective articulation were used as the subjects. Three methods of stimulation were used: picture stimulus, auditory stimulus, and auditory-visual stimulus with ten selected consonant sounds.

The children did not have the same number of articulatory errors when tested by the three methods. More errors were elicited from both males and females by the Picture Stimulus Method. This result was obtained with regard to the total errors and when the three methods were compared with regard to the initial, medial and final positions. Fewer errors were identified by the Auditory Stimulus Method. The least number of errors was found by the Auditory-Visual Stimulus Method.
Averaged Evoked Responses to Synthetic Syntax Sentences (3S)
Authors: Feldman R. Michael , Goldstein Robert
Published: July 2014

Averaged evoked responses (AER) were determined for 10 subjects during the presentation of synthetic syntax sentences (3S) which had been subjected to either intensity, frequency, or time degradation. Analyses of AER latencies with respect to behavioral performance and stimulus conditions indicate that the latency of the AER is inversely related to the presentation level of the speech stimuli but apparently unrelated to the intelligibility of the stimuli.
Interaural Intensity Difference Limen
Authors: Rowland Roy C. , Tobias Jerry V.
Published: July 2014

Three kinds of intensity-difference thresholds were compared for the purpose of determining interaural-binaural and interaural-monaural relations. Five subjects were tested at 250, 2000, and 6000 Hz, using a variation of the Békésy technique. Response to 27 interaural intensity combinations were measured at each frequency. Monaural and binaural conditions were included. Each of 24 combinations was measured under 0° and 180° interaural phase conditions, and all were measured at 50, 35, and 20 dB HL (ISO). Results indicate that interaural-difference thresholds decrease as a function of level, as might be predicted. These thresholds vary as a function of the frequency and apparent azimuth of the fused tone, but are relatively insensitive to variations in interaural phase. Interaural intensity-difference thresholds differ significantly from both monaural and binaural difference thresholds.
Factors Influencing the Identification of English Sounds in Lipreading
Authors: Franks J. Richard , Oyer Herbert J.
Published: July 2014

The influence of the known vowel-consonant stems of monosyllabic words on the identification by lipreading of the initial consonants of the words was studied. Each of seven consonants was united with different VC endings so that seven sets of monosyllabic stimulus words were developed. Four speakers were filmed uttering the resulting 76 stimulus words, and the silent film was shown to 80 college students divided into four groups. The stem of each word was made known to the subjects and they were asked to identify the remaining initial consonant by lipreading. It was found that knowledge of the VC stems caused differences in accuracy of identification of the same initial consonant by lipreading. The number and familiarity of the rhyming alternative words appeared to be factors influencing the identification of the consonants, but familiarity of the stimulus words themselves did not.
The Effect of Response Contingent Verbal Punishment on Stuttering
Authors: Quist Raymond W. , Martin Richard R.
Published: July 2014

The effects of response contingent “wrong” on stuttering were studied in three adult male stutterers. Each subject’s stuttering baserate was obtained, then “wrong” was made contingent on each stuttering.

For two subjects, “wrong” occasioned a 30% to 40% reduction in stuttering frequency. For a third subject, response contingent “wrong” produced almost total suppression of stuttering, removal of “wrong” was followed by a return to baserate frequency, and reintroduction of “wrong” resulted in an immediate and dramatic reduction in stuttering.
Psycholinguistic Aspects of Aphasia
Authors: Spreen Otfried
Published: July 2014

This paper reviews research and theoretical articles investigating psycholinguistic aspects of aphasia. The major parts of the review include the concept of regression in aphasic language both on an ontogenetic and a microgenetic level, and studies of specific parameters, such as abstractness; it discusses the approach of mathematical linguistics and the types of aphasia described on the basis of linguistic evidence.
Sensory Modality and Object-Naming in Aphasia
Authors: Goodglass Harold , Barton Melvin I. , Kaplan Edith F.
Published: July 2014

Twenty-seven aphasics, 12 right-brain-injured, and 12 normal subjects were presented with 16 objects for tactile naming, 16 for auditory naming, and 16 for olfactory naming. All 48 objects were also presented for visual naming. Comparison between groups was based on the percentage difference in response latencies between naming by vision and naming by each of the other modalities. Analysis of variance showed no significant differences. The order of increasing difficulty of stimuli was the same for all groups, with aphasics showing consistently larger differences in latency than the other two groups. With few exceptions, the aphasics' naming scores were less than 1 SD unit apart in all modalities.

It was concluded that a modality nonspecific process intervenes between stimulus presentation and naming.
Vowel Discrimination of Hearing-Impaired Listeners
Authors: Owens Elmer , Talbott Carolyn B. , Schubert Earl D.
Published: July 2014

Vowel discrimination ability was observed in two groups of 20 hearing-impaired subjects each. Each group listened to a different list of closed-set test items specifically designed for the study. A surprisingly low number of errors occurred, suggesting that vowel items in general lack the efficiency required for speech discrimination testing using a closed-set response system. Among the most difficult phonemes to discriminate clearly were /ɔ
I
/, /ɔ/, /au/, /ε/, /o/, and /α/. The phonemes most frequently substituted in error were adjacent to the stimulus phoneme on the Formant 1 versus Formant 2 vowel charts. The /u/ was the most frequent substitution for several vowels.
Visual Discrimination and Response Reversal Learning by Aphasic Subjects
Authors: Brookshire Robert H.
Published: July 2014

Nine aphasic and eight nonaphasic hospital patients were presented with a discrimination learning problem in which they had to learn differential motor responses to visual stimuli. Subjects first were reinforced for emitting response A in the presence of stimulus A, and response B in the presence of stimulus B. Then they were placed in a reversal situation in which they were reinforced for emitting response B in the presence of stimulus A, and response A in the presence of stimulus B. Results indicated that aphasic subjects had more difficulty than nonaphasies in both discrimination tasks. However, responses of most aphasic patients who did not learn the discrimination were not random but reflected strategies which resulted in substantial numbers of reinforcements. Aphasic subjects tended not to improve upon initial performance within treatment sessions, unless either stimuli or consequences for responses were changed. Clinical evidence is presented which indicates that subject impairments which appear in the experimental task also appear in subsequent clinical activities.
Electronic Integrator for Measurement of Partitions of the Lung Volume
Authors: Hardy James C. , Edmonds Terry D.
Published: July 2014

An electronic integrator, for use with an airflow meter, was designed to overcome the disadvantages of respirometers when used for research in speech breathing physiology, such as the inherent inertia which may produce an undesirable impedance to the expiratory airstream. An effort was also made to overcome certain limitations of integrators which restrict their use. The experimental instrument has minimal drift and a nearly infinite discharge time constant. Also, it may provide for the simultaneous recording of partitions of lung volume and airflow rate.
Reproducing Styli for Speech Audiometry
Authors: Lilly David J. , Franzen Richard L.
Published: July 2014

Between 1956 and 1958, Technisonic Studios changed the groove shape on the lateral-cut monophonic recordings that they supply for speech audiometry. A stylus that has a spherical tip with a radius of 1/1000 inch (1.0 mil) is the most appropriate one for reproducing (playing) Technisonic discs pressed since 1959. The tone arms on many speech audiometers, however, still are equipped with a larger (2.5 mil) stylus. This report presents a rationale for using the 1.0-mil stylus. Methods are suggested for identification of groove shape on the Technisonic discs and for identification of stylus size.
A Note on Syntactic Relationships in Nonfluency
Authors: Hannah Elaine P. , Gardner Joanne G.
Published: July 2014

The spontaneous verbalization patterns of eight adult stutterers were analyzed as each paraphrased a story which previously had been read silently. This verbal production was then analyzed in accordance with current syntactic concepts. Moments of nonfluency were categorized according to the syntactic units in which they were located. The initial analysis based on function (subject, verb, object/complement/optional adverb units) yielded a result indicative of a trend toward greater occurrence of nonfluency in the latter type of unit which also tended to occur postverbally. The analysis based on sequence, irrespective of traditional grammatical function, indicated an even more positive trend favoring the postverbal unit. The further analysis of the postverbal unit in terms of content/function word items, total number of words, and structural expansion indicated significant correlations between certain types of expansion and nonfluency.
Some Relationships Between Audiometry and Cochlear Microphonics in Man
Authors: Finck Alfred , Ronis Max L. , Rosenberg Philip E.
Published: July 2014

Cochlear microphonic potentials, recorded with round window electrodes, were obtained from six patients in the operating room. The response criterion consisted of the sound pressure level, for which the cochlear voltage was at a minimum reading at each of five test frequencies. These data were compared to standard audiometric thresholds for the same ears. The relationships between audiometric (behavioral) data and electrophysiological responses indicate comparable frequency sensitivity to sound. Cochlear microphonic measurement presents a valid method for approaching the threshold of auditory sensitivity in man.
The Effects of a Neutral Stimulus (Buzzer) on Motor Responses and Disfluencies in Normal Speakers
Authors: Martin Richard R. , Siegel Gerald M.
Published: July 2014

Seventy-two college students were divided into three groups: Button Push-Speech (BP-S), Speech-Button Push (S-BP), and Control. BP-S subjects pushed one of two buttons on signal for 8 min. During the last 4 min, depression of the criterion button caused a buzzer to sound. After the button-push task, subjects spoke spontaneously for 30 min. During the last 20 min, the buzzer was presented contingent upon each disfluency. S-BP subjects were run under the same procedures, but the order of button-push and speech tasks was reversed. Control subjects followed the same procedures as S-BP subjects, but no buzzer signal was presented at any time.

Both S-BP and BP-S subjects emitted significantly fewer disfluencies during the last 20 min (Conditioning) than during the first 10 min (Baserate) of the speaking task. The frequency of disfluencies for Control subjects did not change significantly from Baserate to Conditioning. In none of the three groups did the frequency of pushes on the criterion button change significantly from minute to minute throughout the 8-min button-push session.
Disfluency Behavior of Elementary-School Stutterers and Nonstutterers: The Consistency Effect
Authors: Williams Dean E. , Silverman Franklin H. , Kools Joseph A.
Published: July 2014

Each of 184 kindergarten through sixth-grade children, 92 stutterers and 92 matched nonstutterers, performed a speaking task two times consecutively. The kindergarten and first-grade children repeated a series of sentences, and the second- through sixth-grade children read a passage. The consistency effect was observed in both groups. However, it was exhibited by a higher percentage of the stutterers than of the nonstutterers. This difference could be at least partially accounted for by the fact that the stutterers' median frequency of disfluency on the first performance of the task was much higher than that of the nonstutterers. Several implications are discussed.
Use of Hooked-Wire Electrodes for Electromyography of the Intrinsic Laryngeal Muscles
Authors: Hirano Minoru , Ohala John
Published: July 2014

A new technique for electromyography of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles with bipolar hooked-wire electrodes is described in detail. This technique has the following important advantages for investigating speech activity: (1) it offers minimum discomfort to the subject, and consequently does not interfere with natural speech; (2) the electrodes stay in place regardless of rapid movements of the vocal cords or of the entire larynx during speech; and (3) it permits considerable localization of the area from which electrical activity is picked up.
Revalidation of the Clinical Test Version of the Modified Rhyme Words
Authors: Beyer M. R. , Webster J. C. , Dague D. M.
Published: July 2014

Kreul et al. (1968), using three talkers at three speech-to-noise differentials (levels), recorded six of the House et al. (1963, 1965) Modified Rhyme word lists (MRT) for clinical use. Copies of these recordings were sent to several laboratories for further validation studies. Scores from 27 normal listeners from San Diego State College were 2–3% lower than the scores of 75, 83, and 96% found by Kruel et al. (1968). Averaging for all levels and talkers yielded no statistically significant differences among lists. However, there were differences between lists (talkers) within levels. The speech-to-noise differential should conceivably be altered slightly for certain talkers at certain levels to make the list more homogeneous.
The Intelligibility of Time Compressed Words as a Function of Age and Hearing Loss
Authors: Sticht Thomas G. , Gray Burl B.
Published: July 2014

Speech intelligibility scores for time compressed PB words were determined for 28 young and old subjects having either normal or sensorineural hearing losses. The discrimination of time compressed words was, not affected differentially by the nature of the subject’s hearing ability. However, time compression attenuated the performance of the aged more than the young, and this difference increased as the amount of compression was increased.
Clusters of Deviant Speech Dimensions in the Dysarthrias
Authors: Darley Frederic L. , Aronson Arnold E. , Brown Joe R.
Published: July 2014

Correlation matrices were used to demonstrate co-occurrence of deviant speech dimensions observed. Application of this technique led to the emergence of eight distinctive clusters of dysfunction. Each of seven neurologic disorders studied had its own unique group or pattern of clusters. However, any one cluster emerged in and was shared by more than one disorder. Inspection of the dimensions present in a cluster permitted giving the cluster a logically determined name based usually on the defective physiology responsible for the cluster. Knowledge of the neuromuscular characteristics of each disorder led to deductions concerning the neuromuscular substrate for each cluster. Intercluster correlations yielded clues concerning co-occurrence of certain neuromuscular defects. Further inspection led to identification of the probable neuromuscular bases of individual deviant speech dimensions. These conclusions may serve as hypotheses for more accurate physiologic and neurophysiologic measurements to further delineate the problems of dysarthria.
The Function of Laryngeal Muscles in Regulating Fundamental Frequency and Intensity of Phonation
Authors: Hirano Minoru , Ohala John , Vennard William
Published: July 2014

The activity of three intrinsic laryngeal muscles in the regulation of fundamental frequency and intensity of phonation was studied electromyographically in six subjects. The regulatory mechanism of fundamental frequency and intensity differed for different registers and fundamental frequencies. In general, the contribution of the laryngeal muscles in changing these parameters was greater in chest register than in falsetto and particularly less in high falsetto. There was no essential difference in the muscular activity patterns between singing in chest register and normal speech as far as control of these two aspects of voice is concerned.
Perception of the Aging Male Voice
Authors: Shipp Thomas , Hollien Harry
Published: July 2014

This study investigated the effects of physiological aging upon otherwise normal healthy male voices. Data are provided for 175 adult males equally divided into seven age categories (decades) from 20 to 90 years of age. In this study, three related perceptual procedures demonstrate that age can be systematically identified from voice samples.
Earmold Influence on Aided Speech Identification Tasks
Authors: Northern Jerry L. , Hattler Karl W.
Published: July 2014

The physical characteristics of hearing aids are modified when the instrument is coupled with an earmold and fitted to an ear canal. This study compares the electroacoustic characteristics of four specific earmold variations with behavioral speech audiometric tasks in five normal-hearing and seven sensorineural-hearing-loss subjects. Speech-Bekesy thresholds were obtained under each earmold condition with continuous discourse for detectability, intelligibility, most comfortable loudness, and tolerance. Speech discrimination ability was evaluated with the Modified Rhyme Test in three signal-to-noise ratio conditions. Significant differences in test scores attributable to earmold modification were difficult to demonstrate, in spite of the fact that substantial variations in the ear inserts were readily apparent in both structural and electroacoustics analysis.
Decreases in Stuttering Frequency as a Function of Continuous and Contingent Forms of Auditory Masking
Authors: Webster Ronald L. , Dorman Michael F.
Published: July 2014

This experiment examined the effects of continuous and contingent white noise masking upon the speech of 10 stutterers. The methodology equated the frequency of masking opportunities during (1) noise onset made contingent upon phonation, and (2) noise cessation made contingent upon phonation. A continuous noise condition and a no-noise control condition were also included. All noise conditions produced significantly less stuttering than the no-noise control condition. The three masking conditions yielded approximately the same reductions in the frequency of stuttered responses. Fluency enhancement by the various masking conditions could possibly be explained by reflex functions of the middle ear muscles.
Comparison of Seven Systems for High-Frequency Air-Conduction Audiometry
Authors: Myers Cecil K. , Harris J. Donald
Published: July 2014

Seven equipment systems were assembled to examine human auditory acuity from 8 to 20 kHz. Two loudspeakers and two earphones were examined, together with two types of stimulus (pure tones and narrow bands of noise) and two psychometric methods (Limits and Adjustments). All systems were capable of providing usably reliable thresholds on 28 ears throughout the whole frequency range. When carefully calibrated, several systems (those involving loudspeakers, as well as those involving earphones) yielded comparable reference threshold sound-pressure levels at the eardrum. A preference was expressed for a system using Bekesy threshold tracking with a changing-frequency noise band of 300 Hz, and for a discrete-tone system using the Method of Constants.
Laryngeal Correlates of Frequency Change: A STROL Study
Authors: Hollien Harry , Coleman Robert F.
Published: July 2014

Vocal fold area and thickness were studied as a function of fundamental frequency of phonation using the stroboscopic-laminagraphic (STROL) technique. Two lamina-grams each were measured for seven adult male subjects phonating at fundamental frequencies of 98, 124, 155, and 196 Hz; the phonations were controlled also with respect to time (15 seconds/duration) and intensity (70 dB ±2 dB). Results indicate: (1) a moderate trend for vocal fold area to decrease with increasing fundamental frequency; (2) vocal fold thickness decreases with increasing f
o
of phonation—thus confirming earlier reports resulting from conventional laminagraphic techniques; and (3) greater intra-subject variability in laryngeal area and thickness may exist than was previously noted.
Laterality Differences in the Auditory Feedback Control of Speech
Authors: Abbs James H. , Smith Karl U.
Published: July 2014

Proceeding from prior experimental evidence that better speech-sound identification most often occurs with right-ear presentation, an experiment was conducted to test for differences in speech production with right-ear and left-ear auditory feedback of one’s own speech. A hybrid-computer system and techniques of experimental programing were employed to control the intervals of aural delay. Presentation of delayed auditory feedback to the right ear during speech, with white noise masking the left ear, resulted in a significantly greater number of articulatory errors than did delayed feedback to the left ear with white noise masking the right ear. With a measure of total speaking time, however, similar differences between ears during delayed hearing were not found. The findings were interpreted as an indication of differences in aural function during auditory feedback control of speech. Such differences are consistent with aural laterality differences reported with speech identification.
Use of Contrastive Stress by Preschool Children
Authors: Hornby Peter A. , Hass Wilbur A.
Published: July 2014

Twenty preschool children were asked to describe pairs of pictures, the second of which contrasted with the first in terms of agent, action, or object. The children showed a clear tendency to stress the part of the description corresponding to the contrasting element. This demonstrates mastery of contrastive stress patterns (in absence of any formal teaching) by young children. The technique provides a controlled means of eliciting this aspect of speech in children.
The Organization of Auditory Behavior
Authors: Eisenberg Rita B.
Published: July 2014

This paper presents a tentative framework that guides a research program in developmental auditory behavior. The determinants of developmental change are defined and related to adaptive processes in general and hearing processes in particular. Data on auditory behavior in the human neonate are reviewed and related to correlates in adult and infrahuman performance. Thinking and observations are applied to a preliminary model for the intrinsic organization of hearing mechanisms, and the general nature of developmental elaborations is discussed. Relations with speech and language are considered, and possible tests of the model are noted.
Psychological Correlates of Speech Characteristics: on Sounding “Disadvantaged”
Authors: Williams Frederick
Published: July 2014

Grade school teachers tended to differentiate the speech samples of children along two gross and relatively independent dimensions tentatively labeled “confidence-eagerness” and “ethnicity-nonstandardness.” Specific ratings of a child’s social status could be interpreted relative to this two-dimensional judgmental model. Moreover, based on measured characteristics of the speech samples, it was possible to develop interpretable prediction equations for variations in the social status ratings. Judgments of social status coincided with an earlier assigned socioeconomic index far more so for Negro than for white children. This prevailed generally with white and Negro teachers, sex of child, and the child’s speech topic. Although judgmental dimensions and prediction equations were roughly similar for Negro and white teachers, differences pointed to more dependence between ratings of race and status on the part of white teachers. When rating a child as high status, the white teachers had a greater tendency to identify him as being white, even if the child himself were Negro.
Spectral Noise Levels and Roughness Severity Ratings for Normal and Simulated Rough Vowels Produced by Adult Males
Authors: Sansone Frank E. , Emanuel Floyd W.
Published: July 2014

Twenty normal-speaking adult males sustained productions of each of the vowels /u/, /i/, /Λ/, /a/, and /æ/ first normally and then with simulated vocal roughness at one intensity. A tape recording of each production was rated for roughness on a five-point equal-appearing-intervals scale by 11 trained judges and was also analyzed to produce its 3-Hz bandwidth frequency-by-amplitude acoustic spectrum. The median roughness rating and the level of inharmonic spectral components, i.e., noise components, for each production were examined and related. Noise levels for the productions of each vowel averaged over selected spectral ranges between 100 Hz and 8000 Hz correlated highly with the median roughness ratings for those productions. Multiple correlation coefficients indicating the relationship between the median roughness rating and multiple measures of spectral noise in the range from 100 Hz to 2600 Hz for the individual productions of each test vowel were high (≥0.97) and significant for all five vowels.
The Significance of Intra- and Intersentence Pause Times in Perceptual Judgments of Oral Reading Rate
Authors: Lass Norman J.
Published: July 2014

A total of 31 pause-altered recordings was constructed and played to a group of 78 judges for rate evaluation. Results indicate that pause time is an important variable in perceptual judgments of oral reading rate.
Effect of Stimulus Duration on Localization of Direction of Noise Stimuli
Authors: Thurlow Willard R. , Mergener James R.
Published: July 2014

Localization of the direction of bursts of thermal noise was measured for both high-frequency and low-frequency bands, as a function of duration of bursts. Durations of 0.3, 1, 2, and 5 sec were used. Subjects were free to move their heads to aid in localization. Subjects were not specially trained in sound localization.

With increase in stimulus duration, perception of elevation was slightly improved for low-frequency noise, probably due to increased information from head movement. A minimum duration of the order of 2 sec appears necessary to allow subjects to achieve maximum performance (which still is not very good for these low-frequency stimuli). Perception of the elevation of the high-frequency noise sources we used was relatively good even at the briefest duration; however, variability of judgment was larger at the shorter durations.

Perception of front-back source position was much improved for both low-frequency and high-frequency noise when stimulus duration was increased. The results are understandable in terms of the increased possibility for head movement with increase in stimulus duration. It appears that one should use a minimum stimulus duration of about 2 sec if one wishes subjects to approach their most efficient performance.
Validity and Reliability of Bekesy Audiometry with Preschool Age Children
Authors: Tokay F. Harry , Hardick Edward J.
Published: July 2014

This study investigated the validity and reliability of Bekesy audiometry with preschool-age children. Sixty preschool children, ages 3, 4, and 5, were chosen such that 20 children were in each of the three age groups. There were an equal number of male and female subjects in each group, and all had intelligence quotients of 90 or higher.

Each subject was given a conventional pure-tone hearing evaluation, followed by a hearing test administered with a Bekesy audiometer. A retest session was conducted one week later.

The results indicate that five-year-old children, when properly conditioned, can be tested with Bekesy audiometry and produce valid, reliable auditory threshold tracings. Some four-year-old children will trace a Bekesy audiometric threshold that is valid, whereas, other four-year-old children trace thresholds that are not a true representation of their actual auditory threshold. Typically, three-year-old children, as presently conditioned, are not candidates for Bekesy audiometry.
Identification of Brief Pauses in the Fluent Speech of Stutterers and Nonstutterers
Authors: Love Laura Russ , Jeffress Lloyd A.
Published: July 2014

Research has indicated that the fluent speech of stutterers is different from normal speech. A previous experiment suggested that a part of the difference between the fluent speech of normals and stutterers is to be found in the number of brief pauses, but varying recording gain levels could have affected the measurements. The present paper reports an attempt to resolve the gain problem and to examine brief pauses in the speech waveform. Twenty-five normal subjects, and 25 fluent stutterers were employed as subjects. Taped samples of reading were processed, using a Computer of Average Transients as the basic unit. An analysis of variance showed decisively that in our method of processing the speech samples, gain had affected pause length but had done so in the same manner for both stutterers and nonstutterers. There was no interaction. Stutterers were found to have a significantly greater number of pauses 150 to 250 msec long. A simple counter, called a Speech-Pause Counter, was devised which was able to give results as reliable as those of the computer, using a single sample of speech from each subject.
Some Recent Developments in the Use of Electromyography in Speech Research
Authors: Gay Thomas , Harris Katherine S.
Published: July 2014

This paper describes current instrumental methods of obtaining and processing electromyographic data for the study of speech. Methods described include electrode systems, data reduction operations; and computer averaging techniques. The particular problems associated with each method are discussed.
Sentence Familiarity as a Factor in Visual Speech Reception (Lipreading) of Deaf College Students
Authors: Lloyd Lyle L. , Price Joan G.
Published: July 2014

Deaf college students were used to determine quantitative sentence familiarity and lipreading values of the John Tracy Clinic Filmed Test of Lipreading (Taaffe, 1957). There was a low positive correlation between sentence familiarity and the lipreading values. The familiarity and lipreading values of the hearing-impaired subjects were compared with those previously obtained from normal-hearing college students (Lloyd, 1964; Taaffe, 1957).
The Effects of Certain Drugs on Phonation
Authors: Fishman Barbara V. , McGlone Robert E. , Shipp Thomas
Published: July 2014

Five young adult male subjects with normal larynxes were recorded as they sustained phonation during one normal and three drug conditions. The vocal tasks included obtaining the total fundamental frequency range, tone-matching ability, and vocal fry production, and were performed by the subject (1) before drugs, (2) following injection of a tranquilizer-narcotic premedication, (3) after topical anesthesia of the larynx, and (4) during a drug-recovery period. Results showed no significant differences between conditions on any of the measures of sustained phonation. It was concluded that neither depressed cortical function nor sensory deprivation of the laryngeal mucosa alters the subject’s phonatory capabilities essential to the performance of the selected vocal tasks.
Performance of Individual Hearing Aids Utilizing Microphone and Induction Coil Input
Authors: Sung Richard J. , Hodgson William R.
Published: July 2014

Physical measurements of gain, maximum power output, frequency response, and harmonic distortion were made on each of two body-type hearing aids on both the microphone and induction coil settings. In addition, we investigated speech intelligibility through each aid, for both acoustic and magnetic input, using 32 normal-hearing subjects. Our findings indicated that different hearing aids provide different sensitivity for loop induction. For a given hearing aid, physical characteristics varied between the microphone and the telephone coil settings. The intelligibility of speech produced by a given mode of signal input, either microphone or telephone coil, was dependent on physical characteristics of the hearing aid. The usable high-frequency response and the configuration of the response curve in the region of 1500 to 3000 Hz appeared to be associated with the intelligibility of monosyllabic words.
Social Class and Code Elaboration in Oral Communication
Authors: Poole Millicent E. , Field T. W.
Published: July 2014

The Bernstein thesis of elaborated and restricted coding orientation in oral communication was explored at an Australian tertiary institute. A working-class/middle-class dichotomy was established on the basis of parental occupation and education, and differences in overall coding orientation were found to be associated with social class. This study differed from others in the area in that the social class groups were contrasted in the totality of their coding orientation on the elaborated/restricted continuum, rather than on discrete indices of linguistic coding.
The Audiometric Evaluation of Adult Aphasics
Authors: Ludlow Christy Leslie , Swisher Linda Peck
Published: July 2014

Sixty-seven adult aphasics were tested audiometrically using ascending and descending approaches to threshold. The three lowest hearing levels at which responses were obtained for each of the approaches were recorded. The severity of aphasia in each patient, and the degree to which each manifested behavioral problems often associated with brain damage, were evaluated. These data were related to his responses to audiometric testing. Those patients who did not respond adequately were those with severe aphasia who manifested particular behavioral problems, for example, an inappropriate social affect. The effect of the testing procedure on the hearing level and the variability of the responses recorded was investigated in two groups of aphasics matched for age. The responses of the less aphasic group did not differ with the approach to threshold used. Comparable responses were found in the more aphasic group with the descending approach; however, the hearing levels recorded with ascending approach were less sensitive, which resulted in greater response variability for this group.