title: Speech analysis and synthesis using an auditory model

authors: Carnegie, Dale A.

abstract: Many traditional speech analysis/synthesis techniques are designed to produce speech with a spectrum that is as close as possible to the original. This may not be necessary because the auditory nerve is the only link from the auditory periphery to the brain, and all information that is processed by the higher auditory system must exist in the auditory nerve firing patterns. Rather than matching the synthesised speech spectra to the original representation, it should be sufficient that the representations of the synthetic and original speech be similar at the auditory nerve level. 

This thesis develops a speech analysis system that incorporates a computationally efficient model of the auditory periphery. Timing-synchrony information is employed to exploit the in-synchrony phenomena observed in neuron firing patterns to form a nonlinear relative spectrum intensity measure. This measure is used to select specific dominant frequencies to reproduce the speech based on a synthesis-by-sinusoid approach. 

The resulting speech is found to be intelligible even when only a fraction of the original frequencies are selected for synthesis. Additionally, the synthesised speech is highly noise immune, and exhibits noise reduction due to the coherence property of the frequency transform algorithm, and the dominance effect of the spectrum intensity measure. 
This noise reduction and low bit rate potential of the speech analysis system is exploited to produce a highly noise immune synthesis that outperforms similar representations formed both by a more physiologically accurate model and a classical non-biological speech processing algorithm. Such a representation has potential application in low-bit rate systems, particularly as a front end to an automatic speech recogniser.

text: Speech analysis and synthesis using an auditory model Many traditional speech analysis/synthesis techniques are designed to produce speech with a spectrum that is as close as possible to the original. This may not be necessary because the auditory nerve is the only link from the auditory periphery to the brain, and all information that is processed by the higher auditory system must exist in the auditory nerve firing patterns. Rather than matching the synthesised speech spectra to the original representation, it should be sufficient that the representations of the synthetic and original speech be similar at the auditory nerve level. 

This thesis develops a speech analysis system that incorporates a computationally efficient model of the auditory periphery. Timing-synchrony information is employed to exploit the in-synchrony phenomena observed in neuron firing patterns to form a nonlinear relative spectrum intensity measure. This measure is used to select specific dominant frequencies to reproduce the speech based on a synthesis-by-sinusoid approach. 

The resulting speech is found to be intelligible even when only a fraction of the original frequencies are selected for synthesis. Additionally, the synthesised speech is highly noise immune, and exhibits noise reduction due to the coherence property of the frequency transform algorithm, and the dominance effect of the spectrum intensity measure. 
This noise reduction and low bit rate potential of the speech analysis system is exploited to produce a highly noise immune synthesis that outperforms similar representations formed both by a more physiologically accurate model and a classical non-biological speech processing algorithm. Such a representation has potential application in low-bit rate systems, particularly as a front end to an automatic speech recogniser.

year: 2000

title: Reflections on transgender immigration

authors: Seuffert, Nan

subjects: immigration

abstract: Recently, the Human Rights Commission of New Zealand has conducted an inquiry that has officially documented ‘the obstacles to dignity, equality and security for trans people’. The Australian Human Rights Commission has also recently conducted a sex and gender diversity project, and in 2006 the Equalities Review in the United Kingdom commissioned the largest research project ever untaken globally on trans people’s lives, reported in Engendered Penalties: Transgender and Transsexual People’s Experiences of Inequality and Discrimination. This article reflects on the implications of the issues raised by these recent reports and research for transgendered people immigrating to and from New Zealand. It also raises some parallel issues for Australia.

text: Reflections on transgender immigration Recently, the Human Rights Commission of New Zealand has conducted an inquiry that has officially documented ‘the obstacles to dignity, equality and security for trans people’. The Australian Human Rights Commission has also recently conducted a sex and gender diversity project, and in 2006 the Equalities Review in the United Kingdom commissioned the largest research project ever untaken globally on trans people’s lives, reported in Engendered Penalties: Transgender and Transsexual People’s Experiences of Inequality and Discrimination. This article reflects on the implications of the issues raised by these recent reports and research for transgendered people immigrating to and from New Zealand. It also raises some parallel issues for Australia.

year: 2009

title: Changing patterns of Otitis Media in the Waikato region during the Covid Pandemic

authors: Becker, Andre

subjects: COVID-19 pandemic

abstract: Introduction. Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common condition of children encountered in general practice. A proportion of children develop otitis media with effusion (OME), which may require tympanostomy and ventilation tube insertion. Aim. The aim of the study was to compare the incidence of AOM in Māori and New Zealand (NZ) European children in general practice and the referral practices to secondary care for tympanostomy and ventilation tube insertion. Methods. The study was conducted in two parts: (1) an analysis of the incidence of AOM and OME in a rural Waikato general practice (Ōtorohanga) with a high Māori population over a 2-year period; and (2) an analysis of all referrals to the otorhinolaryngology (ORL) department at Waikato District Health Board and tympanostomy and ventilation tube insertion by this service over the same period. Results. The incidence of AOM was similar in Māori compared with NZ European children. The incidence declined significantly between 2019 and 2020 and 50% of children with AOM were treated with antibiotics. Referral rates to the ORL department were greater for Māori compared with NZ European children as were tympanostomy and ventilation tube insertion rates. Discussion. Although AOM is common, OME was rarely diagnosed. The clinical guidelines regarding antibiotic use for common conditions are not being readily adopted and further research is needed into this matter. The COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial effect on demand both in general practice and in the hospital sector. This may have been due to a reduction in the incidence of AOM or due to system changes caused by the pandemic.

text: Changing patterns of Otitis Media in the Waikato region during the Covid Pandemic Introduction. Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common condition of children encountered in general practice. A proportion of children develop otitis media with effusion (OME), which may require tympanostomy and ventilation tube insertion. Aim. The aim of the study was to compare the incidence of AOM in Māori and New Zealand (NZ) European children in general practice and the referral practices to secondary care for tympanostomy and ventilation tube insertion. Methods. The study was conducted in two parts: (1) an analysis of the incidence of AOM and OME in a rural Waikato general practice (Ōtorohanga) with a high Māori population over a 2-year period; and (2) an analysis of all referrals to the otorhinolaryngology (ORL) department at Waikato District Health Board and tympanostomy and ventilation tube insertion by this service over the same period. Results. The incidence of AOM was similar in Māori compared with NZ European children. The incidence declined significantly between 2019 and 2020 and 50% of children with AOM were treated with antibiotics. Referral rates to the ORL department were greater for Māori compared with NZ European children as were tympanostomy and ventilation tube insertion rates. Discussion. Although AOM is common, OME was rarely diagnosed. The clinical guidelines regarding antibiotic use for common conditions are not being readily adopted and further research is needed into this matter. The COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial effect on demand both in general practice and in the hospital sector. This may have been due to a reduction in the incidence of AOM or due to system changes caused by the pandemic.

year: 2023