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Z G Schoeny

Publications and source records attributed to Z G Schoeny.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Memory effects to be considered in the design of measurements of the influence of context on speech perception.

One of the experimental parameters needed for the design of testing procedures for measuring context utilization in speech perception is the magnitude of memory effects. Such memory effects were studied using data obtained from normal-hearing subjects in experiments during which test words were presented under noise either in isolation or in the context of sentences. Each test word was presented twice; during each presentation the subject heard the test word several (five or six) different times, under progressively higher signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios. When the second presentation of a test word occurred during the same 1 h session as the first presentation, the observed memory effect was very large, being equivalent to a shift in S/N ratio of the order of 5 dB. In experiments during which the second presentation of a test word occurred after an interval of several days following the first presentation, the observed memory effect was equivalent to a shift in S/N ratio of the order of 1 dB.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

Procedure learning effects in speech perception tests.

The effects of procedure learning were studied using data obtained from normal-hearing subjects by presenting words under noise either in isolation or in the context of sentences. The data establish firmly an effect of procedure learning on the performance of subjects during a 1-hour testing session when the subjects have participated in a previous 1-hour testing session during which about 250 test words were presented. The magnitude of the effect is equivalent to a shift in signal-to-noise ratio of the order of 1 dB.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1989

Temporal-phonemic processing skills in adult stutterers and nonstutterers.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that stuttering is related to a dysfunction in auditory temporal processing. The performance of 20 adult male stutterers and 20 matched nonstutterers was studied using two auditory processing tasks. The subjects listened to stimuli with differential onset asynchronies during temporal order judgment (TOJ) and dichotic listening tasks. Stutterers and nonstutterers were not significantly different at judging which ear received the stimulation first (TOJ task) at varying stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs). During the dichotic listening task, stutterers made significantly fewer double-correct responses (correct report for both stimuli in a dichotic pair) than nonstutterers. The stuttering subjects correctly classified one of the syllables in a pair (single-correct response) more frequently than normal controls on the dichotic listening task. These findings suggest that SOAs as a temporal parameter do not differentiate the performance of the two groups. The more difficult auditory processing task (dichotic identification) showed a significant difference in the performance of the stutterers versus nonstutterers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Comparison of various modes of presenting sentence materials in tests of speech perception in noise.

This study compares alternative modes of presenting sentences in testing situations where noise is employed and where the required response is only one word in the sentence. The purpose is to establish the extent to which contextual information is transmitted to the listener in the following four presentation modes: (1) acoustical presentation of the test word under noise and written presentation of the rest of the sentence (mode W); (2) acoustical presentation of sentence and test word under uniform noise (mode A); (3) superposition of the previous two modes (mode B); and (4) acoustical presentation of the test word under noise in one ear, immediately following the presentation of the rest of the sentence without noise in the other ear (mode C). Modes B and C are found to be essentially equivalent to mode W. When mode A is used, the intelligibility of the test word is substantially lower than with mode W, especially at low signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios. These results are particularly relevant to testing situations where the primary intent is to assess the utilization of contextual information in perceiving speech.

Attention↗
PubMed1987

Nonsense syllable test (NST) results and hearing loss.

Errors on a nonsense syllable test (NST) were compared to pure-tone thresholds and ages of 109 subjects with normal or sensorineural hearing loss. A strong correlation was found between the number of NST errors and hearing loss at 2000 and 250 Hz. NST errors do not appear to be related to the age of subjects. Excellent predictive relationships were found between total NST errors and a weighted pure-tone average for slight to marked sensorineural hearing loss. Implications for counseling, site of lesion, and amplification evaluation are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Measuring the contribution of printed context information to acoustical word recognition by normal subjects.

The present study focuses on measuring the contribution of context in the form of visually presented printed sentences toward the acoustical identification of a word. The results obtained demonstrate the feasibility of the objective selection and calibration of sentence material that could serve to quantify an individual's efficiency in utilizing contextual information during speech perception. In the employed experimental procedure, a reference group of normal-hearing subjects are presented acoustically with test words either in isolation or together with context in the form of a written sentence. The test words are presented under various levels of superimposed noise and the median signal-to-noise ratio at which identification occurs in the reference group serves to characterize the intelligibility of a particular presentation of a word or word-sentence combination. This median value is shifted toward lower signal-to-noise ratios when contextual information in the form of a sentence is provided along with the test word. The resultant context-induced shift can be adopted as an objective and quantitative measure of the effect of contextual information provided by the written sentence on the intelligibility of the test word. The data obtained in this study demonstrate that such context-induced shifts are large enough to be easily measured with the adopted experimental approach.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Effects of maxillary advancement on the speech of a sub-mucosal cleft palate patient.

A nineteen-year-old patient with a surgically repiared sub-mucosal cleft palate was evaluted following a LeFort I osteotomy to determine the effects of the surgery of his speech. Tape recordings were made of his speech pre- and postoperatively during the administration of an articulation test, during casual conversation, and while repeating standard sentences. Spectrographic analysis of pre- and postoperative segments of a standard sentence were made. Results of the tests indicated that maxillary advancement had no adverse effect on articulation ability or voice in this case. Unexpected findings are discussed, and suggestions are given for clinical assessment and evaluation.

Child↗
PubMed1977

Otitis media: a review.

We have presented recommendations for diagnosis and management of otitis media in children based on a comprehensive review of the pertinent medical literature. For an entity that is so common, there still remain amazingly large numbers of areas of controversy. We have also attempted to stress the importance of appropriate therapy and adequate followup as being very important in the management of otitis media. Newer concepts, particularly the use of the impedance bridge tympanogram, have been mentioned. With all the above background information in mind and with considerations for what is practical for the patient and the medical community, we would recommend the following as the acceptable minimal care for patients with otitis media. When the diagnosis of the acute otitis media is made on the basis of physical findings of myringitis, and/or middle ear fluid, and/or rupture of the tympanic membrane, the following treatment course is advisable: Neonates Culture of middle ear fluid if possible. Ampicillin 200 mg/kg/day intramuscularly. Gentamicin 3/5mg/kg/day intramuscularly. Hospitalize and treat until well and for minimum of seven days. Observe closely for meningitis and other infections and drug toxicity. These should be handled only by physicians experienced in dealing with patients in this age range. Appropriate work-up for septicemia should precede treatment. Switch to specific antibiotic when cultures and sensitivity available. Children. From 2 months to 6 years of age: Ampicillin 50mg/kg/day. Decongestant (if desired). Administer for ten days. Every patient with otorrhea, severe otitis and those not clinically well should be seen for followup ten to 14 days later. They should have a minimum of otologic evaluation including drum mobility. In persistent cases, audiometry and otologic referral are necessary. If patient is allergic to penicillin, erythromycin at 20mg/lb/day may be used. Trimethoprim sulfa may hold promise in the future. Tetracycline is never indicated in this age range because of side effects and high relapse rate secondary to resistant organisms. Patients above 6 years of age: Penicillin pheyoxymethyl 250 mg every six hours for ten days. Decongestant (if desired). Followup and penicillin allergy as above.

Adenoidectomy↗
PubMed1970

Cochlear summating potentials: composition.

The potential difference across the cochlear partition and the overall potential level of a given cochlear cross section were measured as functions of stimulus parameters and spatial location. It was confirmed that the potential difference is negative in the vicinity of greatest excitation, and it was discovered that in the same region the overall potential level is positive.

Animals↗
PubMed1969

Cochlear distortion: effect of direct-current polarization.

Intermodulation components (combination tones) appearing in microphonic potentials were measured from guinea pig cochleas with and without polarizing direct currents passing through the cochlear partition. At moderate intensities of stimulus the polarization had a qualitatively different effect on the distortion components than on their eliciting primaries or on pure tones simulating the distortion products. At high intensities, the primaries and the combination tones were similarly influenced by the polarizing current. It is concluded that cochlear distortion is a two-stage process, mechano-electrical at low levels and mechano-hydraulic at high levels.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychoacoustic correlates of susceptibility to auditory fatigue.

The present study was designed to explore psychoacoustic correlates of susceptibility to auditory fatigue. Fifty-six normal-hearing subjects were given two monaural auditory fatigue tests. The high-frequency test consisted of a 3-min exposure to a 110 dB SPL, 2 kHz pure tone, with temporary threshold shift (TTS) measured at 4 kHz. The low-frequency test consisted of a 3-min exposure to a 115 dB SPL, 500 Hz pure tone, with TTS measured at 1 kHz. Amount of TTS and TTS recovery time were compared with performance on a test battery consisting of: (1) masking level differences; (2) brief-tone audiometry; (3) speech discrimination in noise; and (4) the threshold of octave masking test. A small negative correlation was found between amount of TTS and results of the threshold of octave masking test and the results of brief-tone audiometry. Subjects with larger amounts of TTS tended to have lower thresholds of octave masking and flattened threshold-duration functions.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

High-frequency sensitization of the acoustic reflex.

High-frequency sensitization of the acoustic reflex was studied in 10 normal-hearing subjects. The procedure involved pairing a subreflex 6000 Hz sensitizing tone with activating frequencies of 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz. Both threshold and growth of amplitude of the acoustic reflex were examined. Acoustic reflex threshold was reduced by an average of 10 to 12 dB in the presence of a 6000 Hz sensitizing tone, an amount significantly less than previously reported in similar investigations. Variations in the method used to adjust the presentation level of the high-frequency sensitizing tone probably account for these differences. Growth of acoustic reflex amplitude was also found to be influenced by sensitizing stimulation, with the greatest effect occurring near acoustic reflex threshold.

Acoustic Stimulation↗