Reconsidering methods for automatic speech processing: The case of the Language ENvironment Analysis (LENA) system

2021 ◽  
Vol 149 (4) ◽  
pp. A53-A53
Author(s):  
Laura Dilley
Keyword(s):  
Speech Processing ◽  
Environment Analysis ◽  
Language Environment Analysis ◽  
Language Environment

Accuracy of the language environment analysis (LENA) speech processing system for detecting communicative vocalizations of young children

2019 ◽  
Vol 146 (4) ◽  
pp. 2956-2956 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaie C. Woodard ◽  
Nikaela Losievski ◽  
Meisam K. Arjmandi ◽  
Matthew Lehet ◽  
Yuanyuan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Speech Processing ◽  
Processing System ◽  
Environment Analysis ◽  
Language Environment Analysis ◽  
Language Environment

scholarly journals Socioeconomic status correlates with measures of Language Environment Analysis (LENA) system: a meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Leonardo PIOT ◽  
Naomi HAVRON ◽  
Alejandrina CRISTIA
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Publication Type ◽  
Environment Analysis ◽  
System A ◽  
Language Environment Analysis ◽  
Language Environment ◽  
Strength Of Association ◽  
Important Evidence

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.

Evaluating the Language ENvironment Analysis System for Korean

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 792-808
Author(s):  
Margarethe McDonald ◽  
Taeahn Kwon ◽  
Hyunji Kim ◽  
Youngki Lee ◽  
Eon-Suk Ko
Keyword(s):  
Error Rate ◽  
English Language ◽  
Word Count ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Environment Analysis ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Identification Error ◽  
Language Environment Analysis ◽  
Language Environment ◽  
Adult Word Count

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.

scholarly journals Validation of the Language ENvironment Analysis (LENA) system for Dutch

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Eva BRUYNEEL ◽  
Ellen DEMURIE ◽  
Sofie BOTERBERG ◽  
Petra WARREYN ◽  
Herbert ROEYERS
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Typically Developing Children ◽  
Risk Status ◽  
Environment Analysis ◽  
Language Environment Analysis ◽  
Language Environment ◽  
Conversational Turns

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.

Evaluating Language Environment Analysis System Performance for Chinese: A Pilot Study in Shanghai

2015 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 445-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill Gilkerson ◽  
Yiwen Zhang ◽  
Dongxin Xu ◽  
Jeffrey A. Richards ◽  
Xiaojuan Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Native Speaker ◽  
Word Count ◽  
Environment Analysis ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Language Environment Analysis ◽  
Analysis System ◽  
Language Environment ◽  
Adult Word Count ◽  
Age Range ◽  
Shanghai Dialect

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.

scholarly journals How Much Do Parents Think They Talk to Their Child?

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey A. Richards ◽  
Jill Gilkerson ◽  
Dongxin Xu ◽  
Keith Topping
Keyword(s):  
Important Implication ◽  
Parent Perceptions ◽  
Home Language ◽  
Objective Measures ◽  
Reference Standard ◽  
Environment Analysis ◽  
Language Environment Analysis ◽  
Language Environment ◽  
Motivation To Participate ◽  
Home Language Environment

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.

Remote Microphone System Use at Home: Impact on Caregiver Talk

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 399-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos R. Benítez-Barrera ◽  
Gina P. Angley ◽  
Anne Marie Tharpe
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Home Environment ◽  
Language Production ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Environment Analysis ◽  
Equivalent Number ◽  
System Use ◽  
Language Environment Analysis ◽  
Children With Hearing Loss ◽  
Language Environment

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.

Reliability of the Language Environment Analysis Recording System in Analyzing French–English Bilingual Speech

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (7) ◽  
pp. 2491-2500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriel John Orena ◽  
Krista Byers-Heinlein ◽  
Linda Polka
Keyword(s):  
Strong Correlation ◽  
Recording System ◽  
Canadian English ◽  
Environment Analysis ◽  
Canadian French ◽  
Accented Speech ◽  
Data Analyses ◽  
English Bilingual ◽  
Language Environment Analysis ◽  
Language Environment

Purpose This study examined the utility of the Language ENvironment Analysis (LENA) recording system for investigating the language input to bilingual infants. Method Twenty-one French–English bilingual families with a 10-month-old infant participated in this study. Using the LENA recording system, each family contributed 3 full days of recordings within a 1-month period. A portion of these recordings (945 minutes) were manually transcribed, and the word counts from these transcriptions were compared against the LENA-generated adult word counts. Results Data analyses reveal that the LENA algorithms were reliable in counting words in both Canadian English and Canadian French, even when both languages are present in the same recording. While the LENA system tended to underestimate the amount of speech in the recordings, there was a strong correlation between the LENA-generated and human-transcribed adult word counts for each language. Importantly, this relationship holds when accounting for different-gendered and different-accented speech. Conclusions The LENA recording system is a reliable tool for estimating word counts, even for bilingual input. Special considerations and limitations for using the LENA recording system in a bilingual population are discussed. These results open up possibilities for investigating caregiver talk to bilingual infants in more detail.

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