Accuracy of the Language Environment Analysis (LENA) speech processing system in identifying communicative vocalizations of young children and adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 150 (4) ◽  
pp. A358-A358
Author(s):  
Laura Dilley ◽  
Derek Houston
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Speech Processing ◽  
Processing System ◽  
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

Exploring Early Childhood Language Environments: A Comparison of Language Use, Exposure, and Interactions in the Home and Childcare Settings

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 706-719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne L. Larson ◽  
Tyson S. Barrett ◽  
Scott R. McConnell
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Child Language ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Language Outcomes ◽  
Environment Analysis ◽  
Home Setting ◽  
Language Environment Analysis ◽  
Language Environment ◽  
Conversational Turns

Purpose This study was conducted in a large Midwestern metropolitan area to examine the language environments at home and in center-based childcare for young children who are living in poverty. We compared child language use and exposure in the home and childcare settings using extended observations with automated Language Environment Analysis to gain a deeper understanding of the environmental factors that may affect change in language outcomes for young children. Method Thirty-eight children, along with parents ( n = 38) and childcare providers ( n = 14) across five childcare centers, participated in this study. Each child completed a standardized language assessment and two daylong recordings with Language Environment Analysis to determine the number of adult words, conversational turns, and child vocalizations that occurred in each setting. Data were analyzed at 5-min intervals across each recording. Results Comparisons between home recordings in this sample and a comparison group showed reliably higher rates of adult words and conversational turns in the home setting. Linear mixed-effects regression models showed significant differences in the child language environments, with the home setting providing higher levels of language input and use. These effects were still meaningful after accounting for the time of day, participant demographic characteristics, and child language ability. Conclusions Practical implications for supporting child language development across settings are discussed, and suggestions for further research are provided. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.12042678

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.

Facilitative Language Techniques Used in the Home by Caregivers of Young Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Aleah S. Brock ◽  
Sandie M. Bass-Ringdahl
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Natural Environment ◽  
Hard Of Hearing ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
Hearing Level ◽  
Environment Analysis ◽  
Hearing Devices ◽  
Pilot Investigation ◽  
Language Environment ◽  
Adult Word Count

Purpose This research note reports preliminary data from an investigation of facilitative language techniques (FLTs) used in the natural environment by caregivers of children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). The investigation seeks to establish a new method to collect and analyze data on caregiver FLT use in the home. Method This pilot investigation included two children under the age of 36 months with moderate-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss. Both children were consistent users of hearing devices and were pursing oral communication. Data were collected via the Language ENvironment Analysis (LENA) system in the participants' homes. Thirty-six 5-min segments containing the highest adult word count were extracted from each participant's sample. Researchers coded segments for the presence or absence of 10 FLTs within 30-s intervals. Results The collection, coding, and analysis of caregiver FLTs using LENA was a feasible method to investigate caregiver linguistic input in the natural environment. Despite differences in age, sex, and hearing level, the distribution of caregiver FLTs was similar for both participants. Caregivers used high levels of narration, closed-ended questions, and directives throughout the day. Conclusions Results of this investigation provide information about the types of FLTs that are used in the home by caregivers of young children who are DHH. Furthermore, results indicate the feasibility of this method to investigate in-home use of caregiver FLTs.

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.

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