scholarly journals Regularity Matters: Unpredictable Speech Degradation Inhibits Adaptation to Dysarthric Speech

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (12) ◽  
pp. 4282-4290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlin L. Lansford ◽  
Stephanie A. Borrie ◽  
Tyson S. Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Perceptual Learning ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Current Investigation ◽  
Perceptual Training ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Degraded Speech ◽  
Dysarthric Speech ◽  
Training Protocol

Purpose Listener-targeted perceptual training paradigms, which leverage the mechanism of perceptual learning, show strong promise for improving intelligibility in dysarthria, offsetting the communicative burden from the speaker onto the listener. Theoretical models of perceptual learning underscore the importance of acoustic regularity (i.e., signal predictability) for listener adaptation to degraded speech. The purpose of the current investigation was to evaluate intelligibility outcomes following perceptual training with hyperkinetic dysarthria, a subtype characterized by reduced signal predictability. Method Forty listeners completed the standard 3-phase perceptual training protocol (pretest, training, and posttest) with 1 of 2 talkers with hyperkinetic dysarthria. Perceptual data were compared to a historical data set for 1 other talker with hyperkinetic dysarthria to examine the effect of perceptual training on intelligibility. Results When controlling for pretest intelligibility, regression results suggest listeners of the 2 novel talkers with hyperkinetic dysarthria performed comparably to the listeners of the original talker on the posttest following training. Furthermore, differences between pretest and posttest intelligibility failed to reach clinical significance for all 3 talkers and statistical significance for 2 of the 3. Conclusion The current findings are consistent with theoretical models of perceptual learning and suggest that listener adaptation to degraded speech may be negligible for talkers with dysarthria whose speech is marked by reduced signal predictability.

scholarly journals A Clinical Advantage: Experience Informs Recognition and Adaptation to a Novel Talker With Dysarthria

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Stephanie A. Borrie ◽  
Kaitlin L. Lansford ◽  
Tyson S. Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Perceptual Learning ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Prior Experience ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Specific Knowledge ◽  
Perceptual Training ◽  
Degraded Speech ◽  
Clinical Advantage ◽  
Dysarthric Speech ◽  
The Difference

Purpose Perceptual training paradigms, which leverage the mechanism of perceptual learning, show that naïve listeners, those with no prior experience with dysarthria, benefit from explicit familiarization with a talker with dysarthria. It is theorized that familiarization affords listeners an opportunity to acquire distributional knowledge of the degraded speech signal. Here, we extend investigations to clinically experienced listeners, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and advance models of listener recognition and adaptation to dysarthric speech. Method Forty-seven SLPs completed a standard three-phase perceptual training protocol (pretest, familiarization, and posttest) with a novel talker with dysarthria. Intelligibility scores were compared with historical data from naïve listeners. Potential relationships between intelligibility scores and characteristics of clinical experience were examined. Results Intelligibility scores of SLPs improved by an average of 19% from pretest to posttest. This intelligibility improvement was lower than naïve listeners, although the difference was small. Moreover, clinical characteristics related to level of dysarthria experience (e.g., percent of caseload composed of dysarthria) predicted pretest/initial intelligibility. No predictive relationships between clinical characteristics and intelligibility improvement were revealed. Conclusions As a group, SLPs benefitted from perceptual training, suggesting that, despite prior experience, the opportunity to acquire knowledge of talker-specific cue distributions is crucial for optimal adaptation. However, SLPs with greater dysarthria experience were better at initially understanding the talker with dysarthria. This suggests that, through regular interaction with individuals with dysarthria, clinicians acquire knowledge of the cue distributions of dysarthric speech more generally and can generalize this group-specific knowledge to aid in understanding other talkers with dysarthria. Consistent with theoretical models of perceptual learning, both talker- and group-specific knowledge informed recognition and adaptation to dysarthric speech.

scholarly journals When Additional Training Isn't Enough: Further Evidence That Unpredictable Speech Inhibits Adaptation

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 1700-1711
Author(s):  
Kaitlin L. Lansford ◽  
Stephanie A. Borrie ◽  
Tyson S. Barrett ◽  
Cassidy Flechaus
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Theoretical Explanation ◽  
Training Phase ◽  
Perceptual Adaptation ◽  
Training Experience ◽  
Perceptual Training ◽  
Somatosensory Feedback ◽  
Vocal Imitation ◽  
Standard Training ◽  
Training Protocol

Purpose Robust improvements in intelligibility following familiarization, a listener-targeted perceptual training paradigm, have been revealed for talkers diagnosed with spastic, ataxic, and hypokinetic dysarthria but not for talkers with hyperkinetic dysarthria. While the theoretical explanation for the lack of intelligibility improvement following training with hyperkinetic talkers is that there is insufficient distributional regularity in the speech signals to support perceptual adaptation, it could simply be that the standard training protocol was inadequate to facilitate learning of the unpredictable talker. In a pair of experiments, we addressed this possible alternate explanation by modifying the levels of exposure and feedback provided by the perceptual training protocol to offer listeners a more robust training experience. Method In Experiment 1, we examined the exposure modifications, testing whether perceptual adaptation to an unpredictable talker with hyperkinetic dysarthria could be achieved with greater or more diverse exposure to dysarthric speech during the training phase. In Experiment 2, we examined feedback modifications, testing whether perceptual adaptation to the unpredictable talker could be achieved with the addition of internally generated somatosensory feedback, via vocal imitation, during the training phase. Results Neither task modification led to improved intelligibility of the unpredictable talker with hyperkinetic dysarthria. Furthermore, listeners who completed the vocal imitation task demonstrated significantly reduced intelligibility at posttest. Conclusion Together, the results from Experiments 1 and 2 replicate and extend findings from our previous work, suggesting perceptual adaptation is inhibited for talkers whose speech is largely characterized by unpredictable degradations. Collectively, these results underscore the importance of integrating signal predictability into theoretical models of perceptual learning.

scholarly journals Generalized Learning of Dysarthric Speech Between Male and Female Talkers

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 444-451
Author(s):  
Megan E. Hirsch ◽  
Kaitlin L. Lansford ◽  
Tyson S. Barrett ◽  
Stephanie A. Borrie
Keyword(s):  
Historical Data ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Perceptual Similarity ◽  
Perceptual Training ◽  
Familiarization Phase ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Three Phase ◽  
Dysarthric Speech ◽  
Intelligibility Score

Purpose Perceptual training is a listener-targeted means for improving intelligibility of dysarthric speech. Recent work has shown that training with one talker generalizes to a novel talker of the same sex and that the magnitude of benefit is maximized when the talkers are perceptually similar. The current study expands previous findings by investigating whether perceptual training effects generalize between talkers of different sex. Method Forty new listeners were recruited for this study and completed a pretest, familiarization, and posttest perceptual training paradigm. Historical data collected using the same three-phase protocol were included in the data analysis. All listeners were exposed to the same talker with dysarthria during the pretest and posttest phases. For the familiarization phase, listeners were exposed to one of four talkers with dysarthria, differing in sex and level of perceptual similarity to the test talker or a control talker. During the testing phases, listener transcribed phrases produced by the test talker with dysarthria. Listener transcriptions were then used to calculate a percent words correct intelligibility score. Results Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that intelligibility at posttest was not predicted by sex of the training talker. Consistent with earlier work, the magnitude of intelligibility gain was greater when the familiarization and test talkers were perceptually similar. Additional analyses revealed greater between-listeners variability in the dissimilar conditions as compared to the similar conditions. Conclusions Learning as a result of perceptual training with one talker with dysarthria generalized to another talker regardless of sex. In addition, listeners trained with perceptually similar talkers had greater and more consistent intelligibility improvement. Together, these results add to previous evidence demonstrating that learning generalizes to novel talkers with dysarthria and that perceptual training is suitable for many listeners.

scholarly journals A Perceptual Learning Approach for Dysarthria Remediation: An Updated Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Stephanie A. Borrie ◽  
Kaitlin L. Lansford
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Perceptual Learning ◽  
Behavioral Change ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Clinical Implementation ◽  
Perceptual Training ◽  
Current Review ◽  
Dysarthric Speech ◽  
Promising Avenue

Purpose Early studies of perceptual learning of dysarthric speech, those summarized in Borrie, McAuliffe, and Liss (2012), yielded preliminary evidence that listeners could learn to better understand the speech of a person with dysarthria, revealing a potentially promising avenue for future intelligibility interventions. Since then, a programmatic body of research grounded in models of perceptual processing has unfolded. The current review provides an updated account of the state of the evidence in this area and offers direction for moving this work toward clinical implementation. Method The studies that have investigated perceptual learning of dysarthric speech ( N = 24) are summarized and synthesized first according to the proposed learning source and then by highlighting the parameters that appear to mediate learning, culminating with additional learning outcomes. Results The recent literature has established strong empirical evidence of intelligibility improvements following familiarization with dysarthric speech and a theoretical account of the mechanisms that facilitate improved processing of the neurologically degraded acoustic signal. Conclusions There are no existing intelligibility interventions for individuals with dysarthria who cannot behaviorally modify their speech. However, there is now robust support for the development of an approach that shifts the weight of behavioral change from speaker to listener, exploiting perceptual learning to ease the intelligibility burden of dysarthria. To move this work from bench to bedside, recommendations for translational studies that establish best practices and candidacy for listener-targeted dysarthria remediation, perceptual training, are provided.

On the Relationship Between General Auditory Sensitivity and Speech Perception: An Examination of Pitch and Lexical Tone Perception in 4- to 6-Year-Old Children

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 487-498
Author(s):  
Puisan Wong ◽  
Man Wai Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Speech Perception ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Developmental Trajectory ◽  
Auditory Sensitivity ◽  
Pitch Discrimination ◽  
Lexical Tone ◽  
Perceptual Training ◽  
Lexical Tones ◽  
Tone Perception ◽  
Tone Discrimination

Purpose Theoretical models and substantial research have proposed that general auditory sensitivity is a developmental foundation for speech perception and language acquisition. Nonetheless, controversies exist about the effectiveness of general auditory training in improving speech and language skills. This research investigated the relationships among general auditory sensitivity, phonemic speech perception, and word-level speech perception via the examination of pitch and lexical tone perception in children. Method Forty-eight typically developing 4- to 6-year-old Cantonese-speaking children were tested on the discrimination of the pitch patterns of lexical tones in synthetic stimuli, discrimination of naturally produced lexical tones, and identification of lexical tone in familiar words. Results The findings revealed that accurate lexical tone discrimination and identification did not necessarily entail the accurate discrimination of nonlinguistic stimuli that followed the pitch levels and pitch shapes of lexical tones. Although pitch discrimination and tone discrimination abilities were strongly correlated, accuracy in pitch discrimination was lower than that in tone discrimination, and nonspeech pitch discrimination ability did not precede linguistic tone discrimination in the developmental trajectory. Conclusions Contradicting the theoretical models, the findings of this study suggest that general auditory sensitivity and speech perception may not be causally or hierarchically related. The finding that accuracy in pitch discrimination is lower than that in tone discrimination suggests that comparable nonlinguistic auditory perceptual ability may not be necessary for accurate speech perception and language learning. The results cast doubt on the use of nonlinguistic auditory perceptual training to improve children's speech, language, and literacy abilities.

scholarly journals Do galactic bars depend on environment?: an information theoretic analysis of Galaxy Zoo 2

2020 ◽  
Vol 501 (1) ◽  
pp. 994-1001
Author(s):  
Suman Sarkar ◽  
Biswajit Pandey ◽  
Snehasish Bhattacharjee
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Mutual Information ◽  
Local Density ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Cumulative Distribution ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Information Theoretic

ABSTRACT We use an information theoretic framework to analyse data from the Galaxy Zoo 2 project and study if there are any statistically significant correlations between the presence of bars in spiral galaxies and their environment. We measure the mutual information between the barredness of galaxies and their environments in a volume limited sample (Mr ≤ −21) and compare it with the same in data sets where (i) the bar/unbar classifications are randomized and (ii) the spatial distribution of galaxies are shuffled on different length scales. We assess the statistical significance of the differences in the mutual information using a t-test and find that both randomization of morphological classifications and shuffling of spatial distribution do not alter the mutual information in a statistically significant way. The non-zero mutual information between the barredness and environment arises due to the finite and discrete nature of the data set that can be entirely explained by mock Poisson distributions. We also separately compare the cumulative distribution functions of the barred and unbarred galaxies as a function of their local density. Using a Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, we find that the null hypothesis cannot be rejected even at $75{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ confidence level. Our analysis indicates that environments do not play a significant role in the formation of a bar, which is largely determined by the internal processes of the host galaxy.

Has tourism driven house prices in Germany? Time-varying evidence since 1870

2021 ◽  
pp. 135481662110088
Author(s):  
Sefa Awaworyi Churchill ◽  
John Inekwe ◽  
Kris Ivanovski
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
House Prices ◽  
Housing Prices ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Time Series Modelling ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Tourism Flows ◽  
Non Parametric

Using a historical data set and recent advances in non-parametric time series modelling, we investigate the nexus between tourism flows and house prices in Germany over nearly 150 years. We use time-varying non-parametric techniques given that historical data tend to exhibit abrupt changes and other forms of non-linearities. Our findings show evidence of a time-varying effect of tourism flows on house prices, although with mixed effects. The pre-World War II time-varying estimates of tourism show both positive and negative effects on house prices. While changes in tourism flows contribute to increasing housing prices over the post-1950 period, this is short-lived, and the effect declines until the mid-1990s. However, we find a positive and significant relationship after 2000, where the impact of tourism on house prices becomes more pronounced in recent years.

Measurement of Plasma Parameters of Fe-Lines in Lipstick Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 01-07
Author(s):  
M.H. Asmaa ◽  
Sami A. Habana
Keyword(s):  
Electron Temperature ◽  
Debye Length ◽  
Nuclear Data ◽  
Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy ◽  
Current Investigation ◽  
Plasma Parameters ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Breakdown Spectroscopy ◽  
Laser Induced Breakdown ◽  
Business Sectors

Electron thickness and temperature of laser prompted Iron plasma boundaries, among different boundaries, were estimated. Plasma was delivered through the connection of high pinnacle power Nd: YAG laser at the key frequency of 1064 nm with a pellet target contains a limited quantity of lipstick from nearby business sectors. Lines from Fe II at 238.502 nm, Fe II at 254.904 nm, Fe II at 262.370 nm, Fe II at 286.545 nm and Fe I at 349.779 nm were utilized to assess the plasma boundaries. The current investigation was completed to assess electron temperature (Te), electron thickness (ne), plasma recurrence, Debye length and Debye number (ND). Laser-incited breakdown spectroscopy LIBS method was used for examining and deciding ghastly discharge lines. ID of change lines from all spectra was completed by contrasting ghostly lines and NIST nuclear data set.

scholarly journals Children with 5′-end NF1 gene mutations are more likely to have glioma

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. e192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corina Anastasaki ◽  
Stephanie M. Morris ◽  
Feng Gao ◽  
David H. Gutmann
Keyword(s):  
Gene Mutation ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Neurofibromatosis Type ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Nonsense Mutations ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Nf1 Gene ◽  
The Relationship

Objective:To ascertain the relationship between the germline NF1 gene mutation and glioma development in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).Methods:The relationship between the type and location of the germline NF1 mutation and the presence of a glioma was analyzed in 37 participants with NF1 from one institution (Washington University School of Medicine [WUSM]) with a clinical diagnosis of NF1. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using both unadjusted and weighted analyses of this data set in combination with 4 previously published data sets.Results:While no statistical significance was observed between the location and type of the NF1 mutation and glioma in the WUSM cohort, power calculations revealed that a sample size of 307 participants would be required to determine the predictive value of the position or type of the NF1 gene mutation. Combining our data set with 4 previously published data sets (n = 310), children with glioma were found to be more likely to harbor 5′-end gene mutations (OR = 2; p = 0.006). Moreover, while not clinically predictive due to insufficient sensitivity and specificity, this association with glioma was stronger for participants with 5′-end truncating (OR = 2.32; p = 0.005) or 5′-end nonsense (OR = 3.93; p = 0.005) mutations relative to those without glioma.Conclusions:Individuals with NF1 and glioma are more likely to harbor nonsense mutations in the 5′ end of the NF1 gene, suggesting that the NF1 mutation may be one predictive factor for glioma in this at-risk population.

scholarly journals Theoretical Models for Interpreting the Dielectric Behaviour of HF-doped Ice

1978 ◽  
Vol 21 (85) ◽  
pp. 123-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. C. Camplin ◽  
J. W. Glen ◽  
J. G. Paren
Keyword(s):  
Single Crystals ◽  
Electrical Conduction ◽  
Fluoride Concentration ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Yield Values ◽  
Full Knowledge ◽  
The Common ◽  
Ice Lattice

AbstractTo understand the recent dielectric measurements made on HF-doped ice single crystals requires a full knowledge of the concentration of electrical defects present in ice and their subsequent interactions. Previous interpretations of the behaviour of HF-doped ice have concentrated upon specific features in isolation, whereas this paper presents analyses of a data set of 139 temperature and impurity combinations from 17 HF-doped ice single crystals. The interpretation of the behaviour of these crystals is in terms of several possible theoretical models. All models are based upon the common assumptions that HF molecules enter the ice lattice substitutionally and that excess Bjerrum and ionic defects can be formed at the HF sites. They also use the theory of electrical conduction in ice by Jaccard (1959) and the defect equilibria analysis in ice by Kroger (1974).All models yield values for the concentration, mobility, energy of formation and charges for the different types of electrical defect considered to be generated.From the model which assumes that only three fluorine centres exist, the approximate derived values of the mobility and charge for the L-defect and positive ionic defect are as follows: μL = 5 × 10-8 m2 V-1 s-1 at 273 K, eDL = 0.44e; μ+ = 2.7 × 10-8 m2 V-1 s-1 at 273 K, e± 0.73e.Finally, using the derived defect conductivities and the Jaccard theory of electrical conduction, the relaxation tune of HF-doped ice has been successfully predicted over a wide range of temperature and fluoride concentration.

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