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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Genetic algorithm for the efficient selection of disyllabic word lists used in Mandarin speech discrimination tests.

Speech audiometric tests have been widely used for advanced hearing diagnoses and in rehabilitation. However, there are no standardised speech tests for more than 90% of the world's population, who do not speak English. A major problem in the design of a speech audiometric test is that the selection of test materials is subject to multiple criteria, and its complexity rises dramatically as the structure of test items changes from phonemic or monosyllabic forms to disyllabic or polysyllabic forms. A genetic algorithm is presented that can automatically select a set of disyllabic words from a large Mandarin corpus. The selection accords with the following principal criteria for the items constituting a speech discrimination test: similarity in structure, familiarity to the subjects, and a phonemically balanced composition. The performance of the genetic algorithm was evaluated by computation of the distance between a target vector, specifying the desired distribution of initial and final syllables and tone patterns for daily disyllabic word usage, and the vector derived by the search results of the algorithm. The use of the genetic algorithm was illustrated by its application to the selection of test lists from two Mandarin corpora. The results showed that, for a given corpus, at least 12 disyllabic word lists with a distance of less than 20 could be generated within 72 h. The genetic algorithm performed an efficient, robust and low-complexity search of the problem space and can be easily modified to adapt to the material selection of other languages.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1983

The effect of test difficulty on the sensitivity of speech discrimination tests.

The sensitivity of speech discrimination tests is defined as being large if a small change in experimental conditions causes a large and repeatable change in test score. The aim of this paper is to investigate ways by which test sensitivity can be maximized. The effect of test difficulty on sensitivity is examined by the use of a model based on signal detection theory and subjective similarity rating concepts. For several sets of assumptions about the parameters underlying the perceptual processes, the model indicates that test difficulty should be in the range 73% to 87% to achieve the maximum sensitivity with speech tests using between four and eight response foils. The model results also indicate that the sensitivity increases with the number of response foils. When the variation of test reliability with test difficulty is taken into account, the test difficulty which maximizes the sensitivity/reliability trade-off lies in the range 85% to 90%. It is argued that irrespective of the optimum test difficulty, a maximally sensitive test will contain items equal to one another in difficulty.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

Relationships between middle latency auditory responses (MLR) and speech discrimination tests in the elderly.

74 subjects aged between 60 and 80 years underwent tonal audiometry, speech discrimination tests (phonetically balanced words, normal sentences and compressed sentences) and middle latency responses (MLRs) in order to evaluate possible correlations between behavioural and electrophysiological tests. The results showed that in elderly patients normal sentences are better understood than phonetically balanced words, that performances decrease dramatically when listening conditions became difficult, that auditory threshold seems to influence speech discrimination scores more than does age per se. MLRs seem to be unaffected both by age and by auditory threshold and Pa occurrence is a more reliable parameter than its latency. No correlation between speech discrimination tests and MLRs could be observed; on the contrary in the presence of abnormal speech discrimination tests the MLRs were almost normal and vice versa.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Use of the NAL-AB wordlists as a South African English speech discrimination test.

South Africa still lacks a South African English specific speech discrimination test. As an alternative, this study investigated the use of the Australian English, National Acoustic Laboratories Arthur Boothroyd (NAL-AB) wordlists to assess the speech discrimination of South African English speakers. Thirty South African English speakers were tested at 0, 5, 10, 20 and 25 dBHL (audiometer dial reading) and their performance-intensity functions were compared qualitatively to the NAL-AB wordlist normative data. Results showed three general patterns; similar performance for both groups; poorer performance by the South African English speakers at the low to mid presentation intensities only; and poorer performance by the South African English speakers across most presentation intensities. Use of the NAL-AB wordlists at threshold levels or for site of lesion assessment was therefore concluded to be unwise. Use of these wordlists at supra-threshold levels, however, would provide a valid and reliable option for the speech discrimination assessment of South African English speakers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Possibilities of improving the diagnosis of noise-induced hearing damage by means of directional audiometry, the dichotic speech discrimination test, and the EEG1.

Several audiometric tests were made of 85 noise workers exposed to an intensive impulse noise during pressing and punching. These tests aimed at finding out noise-induced central hearing damages (directional audiometry, dichotic speech discrimination test according to Feldmann and checking of the induction of the impedance jump). In addition, a clinical EEG was taken from each subject. Having obtained the necessary norms with series of tests in subjects with normal hearing abilities for their respective ages, the following results have been obtained: (1) directional hearing has hardly been affected by noise-induced hearing damage. It behaves like age changes in the group compared with it; (2) the dichotic speech discrimination test shows increasingly pathological values with progressive noise-induced hearing damage; this was already obvious in the age group 41-50. The impedance jump is less and less produced with progressive noise-induced hearing damage and finally disappears at a noise intensity of up to 110 dB. Because of these findings a progressive degeneration of the spiral ganglion and hearing nerve in noise-induced hearing damage is discussed as a cause of a deteriorated speech discrimination and the absence of the impedance jump. The EEG findings show changes in the alpha-rhythm in about 50% of the cases at an exposure time of 10 years onwards which may be possibly due to damage to the reticular formation, once increasing noise-induced hearing damage no longer exists.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Use of the CID W22 as a South African English speech discrimination test.

South Africa currently lacks a pre-recorded South African English (SAE) specific speech discrimination test. In the absence of such a test, the SAE speaker recording (Tygerberg recording) of the American (USA) English (AE) CID W22 wordlists--in combination with the original American CID W22 normative data--is the most widely used alternative. The reliability and validity of this method, however, has never been formally assessed. This study assessed the performance of 15 normal hearing, female, first language SAE speakers on the first two full-lists of Tygerberg CID W22 recording at 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 dBSPL, and compared their scores to the American CID W22 wordlist normative data. Overall, the South African subjects performed worse than the original American normative data at the lower presentation intensities (< 50 dBSPL). Use of the Tygerberg CID W22 recording--with the original American CID W22 normative data--for near threshold assessment of SAE speaking subjects was therefore concluded to be problematic. Use at suprathreshold intensities (> 40 dBSPL), however, was considered a viable option. These results reiterate the need for large scale, South African specific normative studies for the CID W22 wordlists if they are to continue their role as the dominant speech discrimination wordlists in South Africa.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Articulation functions and test-retest performance of normal-hearing children on three speech discrimination tests: WIPI, PBK-50, and NV Auditory Test No. 6.

This study investigates the performance of normal-hearing children on three types of speech discrimination tasks: (1) a multiple-choice, closed-message set test requiring no verbal response, the WIPI; (2) an open-message set test for adults, Northwestern University Aue talker were administrated to 60 normal-hearing children, divided qually between the ages three-and-one-half, five-and-one-half, seven-and-one-half, nine-and-one-half, and 11-and-one-half years. The number of tests and sensations levels administered varied by age. The WIPI test yielded the highest discrimination scores, the PBK-50 was intermediate, and the NU-6 was most difficult. A small number of items on the WIPI test accounted for a large percentage of the errors. For three-and-one-half years olds, the WIPI appears to be the instrument of choice. For children aged five-and-one-half years, both the WIPI and the PBK-50 appear to be appropriate clinical tools. Children aged seven-and-one-half scored similar to children aged nine-and-one-half on the WIPI and to children aged nine-and-one-half and 11 and-one-half on the PBK-50 and NU-6. Test-retest differences were small on all three tests.

Audiometry↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A quantitative examination of the sources of speech discrimination test score variability.

Several sources of variability inherent in any speech discrimination measurement are outlined. Limitations of the use of the binomial theorem to predict intrasubject (test-retest) variability are examined. First, the underestimation of variability that is caused by the inclusion of items of different degrees of difficulty is quantified by a reanalysis of published data. Second, it is shown that variability will be larger than expected if the subject's ability is different during test and retest sessions. Fortuitously, these two deviations from the model have opposing effects on the score variability. The estimates provided by the binomial theorem are thus better than if only one effect was present. The need for a clear distinction to be maintained between inter- and intra-subject variability and the effect of list differences on test-retest variability are also discussed.

Hearing↗
PubMed1990

[Five-choice speech discrimination test].

In order to overcome defects of dictation method, a new 5-choice method introduced into Japanese mono syllables discrimination test. A new 20-items mono syllables list was developed on the principle of equal probability of the Japanese consonant phonetics, instead of the present mono syllable frequencies among the 100 Japanese mono syllables. The choice items for the each stimulus syllables were selected on the analysis of perceptual confusions data among hard of hearing persons. Comparison of discrimination scores and consonant confusions of the dictation method speech test and 5-choice method revealed that the two tests were parallel with some advantages of easiness of test procedure, and easiness and objectivity of scoring on the side of 5-choice method.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

Speech discrimination tests with hearing aids in tele-coil listening mode. A comparative study in school children.

The object of this study was to compare the discrimination scores obtained in conventional speech audiometry with the scores recorded when the same speech test lists were presented through individually fitted, ear-level hearing aids. Comparative tests were performed in 50 hearing-impaired students aged 8 to 20 years, all well trained everyday hearing aid users. The test material consisted of Swedish standardized 50 words PB lists, recorded on tape. To keep the test conditions under control in the hearing aid presentation, the recorded speech was transmitted from a neck-loop telecoil to the student's hearing aid (T-mode listening). The result shows that the great majority of children recorded considerably higher discrimination scores when the tests were performed with their individual hearing aids than with the test lists presented through the audiometer and the TDH-49 earphone. The conclusion is that, in children who are using carefully fitted hearing aids and are well adapted to those, the results of traditional speech audiometry tests involve a risk of underrating such children's practical hearing ability. The finding stresses that it is important to maintain one and the same amplification characteristic to which the child has accommodated, and to avoid switching between systems with different characteristics.

Adolescent↗