Use of the LENA Tool to Evaluate the Effectiveness of a Parent Intervention Program

2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 108-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Wisman Weil ◽  
Laura Middleton

This article describes a study investigating the language environment analysis (LENA) tool to measure the effectivenes of a parent intervention training program with children with language delays. In addition to the effects of parent training on the language development of participating children, the contributions of using LENA to measure growth also is discussed.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Virginia A. MARCHMAN ◽  
Adriana WEISLEDER ◽  
Nereyda HURTADO ◽  
Anne FERNALD

Abstract Laboratory observations are a mainstay of language development research, but transcription is costly. We test whether speech recognition technology originally designed for day-long contexts can be usefully applied to this use-case. We compared automated adult word and child vocalization counts from Language Environment Analysis (LENATM) to those of transcribers in 20-minute play sessions with Spanish-speaking dyads (n = 104) at 1;7 and 2;2. For adult words, results indicated moderate associations but large absolute differences. Associations for child vocalizations were weaker with larger absolute discrepancies. LENA has moderate potential to ease the burden of transcription in some research and clinical applications.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Leonardo PIOT ◽  
Naomi HAVRON ◽  
Alejandrina CRISTIA

Abstract Using a meta-analytic approach, we evaluate the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and children's experiences measured with the Language Environment Analysis (LENA) system. Our final analysis included 22 independent samples, representing data from 1583 children. A model controlling for LENATM measures, age and publication type revealed an effect size of r z = .186, indicating a small effect of SES on children's language experiences. The type of LENA metric measured emerged as a significant moderator, indicating stronger effects for adult word counts than child vocalization counts. These results provide important evidence for the strength of association between SES and children's everyday language experiences as measured with an unobtrusive recording analyzed automatically in a standardized fashion.


2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 792-808
Author(s):  
Margarethe McDonald ◽  
Taeahn Kwon ◽  
Hyunji Kim ◽  
Youngki Lee ◽  
Eon-Suk Ko

Purpose The algorithm of the Language ENvironment Analysis (LENA) system for calculating language environment measures was trained on American English; thus, its validity with other languages cannot be assumed. This article evaluates the accuracy of the LENA system applied to Korean. Method We sampled sixty 5-min recording clips involving 38 key children aged 7–18 months from a larger data set. We establish the identification error rate, precision, and recall of LENA classification compared to human coders. We then examine the correlation between standard LENA measures of adult word count, child vocalization count, and conversational turn count and human counts of the same measures. Results Our identification error rate (64% or 67%), including false alarm, confusion, and misses, was similar to the rate found in Cristia, Lavechin, et al. (2020) . The correlation between LENA and human counts for adult word count ( r = .78 or .79) was similar to that found in the other studies, but the same measure for child vocalization count ( r = .34–.47) was lower than the value in Cristia, Lavechin, et al., though it fell within ranges found in other non-European languages. The correlation between LENA and human conversational turn count was not high ( r = .36–.47), similar to the findings in other studies. Conclusions LENA technology is similarly reliable for Korean language environments as it is for other non-English language environments. Factors affecting the accuracy of diarization include speakers' pitch, duration of utterances, age, and the presence of noise and electronic sounds.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Eva BRUYNEEL ◽  
Ellen DEMURIE ◽  
Sofie BOTERBERG ◽  
Petra WARREYN ◽  
Herbert ROEYERS

Abstract The validity of the Language ENvironment Analysis (LENA) System was evaluated for Dutch. 216 5-min samples (six samples per age per child) were selected from daylong recordings at 5, 10 and 14 months of age of native Dutch-speaking younger siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder (N = 6) and of typically developing children (N = 6). Two native Dutch-speaking coders counted the amount of adult words (AWC), child vocalisations (CVC) and conversational turns (CT). Consequently, correlations between LENA and human estimates were explored. Correlations were high for AWC at all ages (r = .73 to .81). Regarding CVC, estimates were moderately correlated at 5 months (r = .57) but the correlation decreased at 10 (r = .37) and 14 months (r = .14). Correlations for CT were low at all ages (r = .19 to .28). Lastly, correlations were not influenced by the risk status of the children.


2015 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 445-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill Gilkerson ◽  
Yiwen Zhang ◽  
Dongxin Xu ◽  
Jeffrey A. Richards ◽  
Xiaojuan Xu ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate performance of the Language Environment Analysis (LENA) automated language-analysis system for the Chinese Shanghai dialect and Mandarin (SDM) languages. Method Volunteer parents of 22 children aged 3–23 months were recruited in Shanghai. Families provided daylong in-home audio recordings using LENA. A native speaker listened to 15 min of randomly selected audio samples per family to label speaker regions and provide Chinese character and SDM word counts for adult speakers. LENA segment labeling and counts were compared with rater-based values. Results LENA demonstrated good sensitivity in identifying adult and child; this sensitivity was comparable to that of American English validation samples. Precision was strong for adults but less so for children. LENA adult word count correlated strongly with both Chinese characters and SDM word counts. LENA conversational turn counts correlated similarly with rater-based counts after the exclusion of three unusual samples. Performance related to some degree to child age. Conclusions LENA adult word count and conversational turn provided reasonably accurate estimates for SDM over the age range tested. Theoretical and practical considerations regarding LENA performance in non-English languages are discussed. Despite the pilot nature and other limitations of the study, results are promising for broader cross-linguistic applications.


2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey A. Richards ◽  
Jill Gilkerson ◽  
Dongxin Xu ◽  
Keith Topping

This study investigated whether parent perceptions of their own and their child’s levels of talkativeness were related to objective measures recorded via the Language Environment Analysis (LENA) System. Parents of 258 children aged 7 to 60 months completed a questionnaire on which they rated how much they and their child talked. Six months previously, they had recorded in their home language environment using the LENA System. Compared with recording measures, parents tended to overestimate how much they talk to their child, but were somewhat closer when estimating their child’s talkativeness. Results were similar for a smaller sample with concurrent recordings, indicating that calibration of talk volubility is challenging without a reference standard. An important implication is that parents’ motivation to participate in language-focused interventions may be reduced. That is, parents who overestimate how much they talk to their child may also underestimate what they could do to enhance their child’s home language environment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 399-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos R. Benítez-Barrera ◽  
Gina P. Angley ◽  
Anne Marie Tharpe

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of home use of a remote microphone system (RMS) on the spoken language production of caregivers with young children who have hearing loss. Method Language Environment Analysis recorders were used with 10 families during 2 consecutive weekends (RMS weekend and No-RMS weekend). The amount of talk from a single caregiver that could be made accessible to children with hearing loss when using an RMS was estimated using Language Environment Analysis software. The total amount of caregiver talk (close and far talk) was also compared across both weekends. In addition, caregivers' perceptions of RMS use were gathered. Results Children, with the use of RMSs, could potentially have access to approximately 42% more words per day. In addition, although caregivers produced an equivalent number of words on both weekends, they tended to talk more from a distance when using the RMS than when not. Finally, caregivers reported positive perceived communication benefits of RMS use. Conclusions Findings from this investigation suggest that children with hearing loss have increased access to caregiver talk when using an RMS in the home environment. Clinical implications and future directions for research are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nazila NeJhaddadgar ◽  
Sedigheh Sadat Tavafian ◽  
arash ziapour ◽  
Jaffar Abbas ◽  
Ahmad Rreza Jamshidi

Abstract Background: According to the studies conducted, teenage and its related health issues are of the most significant issues. The purpose of the study was to develop a Musculoskeletal Health intervention-training program using intervention mapping approach (IMA)for teenagers 12 to 14 years old.Methods: The present study is a study protocol where IMA has been used as a planning framework for developing musculoskeletal Health intervention-training program. Six intervention mapping steps have been completed in the study. As the first step, needs assessment has been performed by systematic review and qualitative evaluation . In the second step, matrix of change objectives was designed. Later on, after designing the program and planning the program implementation, the program evaluation plan was developed.Results: IMA guided us in designing and implementing a control-oriented training program with the participation of the participants along with the definition of outcomes, performance goals and determinants, theoretical methods and practical applications, intervention program, implementation and step by step assessment.Conclusion: Intervention mapping is a participation-based approach to design and implement promotion programs.


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