Amplitude (vu and rms) and Temporal (msec) Measures of Two Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 Recordings

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (04) ◽  
pp. 346-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard H. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Word Recognition ◽  
Target Word ◽  
Recognition Performance ◽  
Cooperative Effort ◽  
Northwestern University ◽  
Male Speaker ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Standard Deviations ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Target Words

Background: In 1940, a cooperative effort by the radio networks and Bell Telephone produced the volume unit (vu) meter that has been the mainstay instrument for monitoring the level of speech signals in commercial broadcasting and research laboratories. With the use of computers, today the amplitude of signals can be quantified easily using the root mean square (rms) algorithm. Researchers had previously reported that amplitude estimates of sentences and running speech were 4.8 dB higher when measured with a vu meter than when calculated with rms. This study addresses the vu–rms relation as applied to the carrier phrase and target word paradigm used to assess word-recognition abilities, the premise being that by definition the word-recognition paradigm is a special and different case from that described previously. Purpose: The purpose was to evaluate the vu and rms amplitude relations for the carrier phrases and target words commonly used to assess word-recognition abilities. In addition, the relations with the target words between rms level and recognition performance were examined. Research Design: Descriptive and correlational. Study Sample: Two recoded versions of the Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 were evaluated, the Auditec of St. Louis (Auditec) male speaker and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) female speaker. Data Collection and Analysis: Using both visual and auditory cues from a waveform editor, the temporal onsets and offsets were defined for each carrier phrase and each target word. The rms amplitudes for those segments then were computed and expressed in decibels with reference to the maximum digitization range. The data were maintained for each of the four Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 word lists. Descriptive analyses were used with linear regressions used to evaluate the reliability of the measurement technique and the relation between the rms levels of the target words and recognition performances. Results: Although there was a 1.3 dB difference between the calibration tones, the mean levels of the carrier phrases for the two recordings were −14.8 dB (Auditec) and −14.1 dB (VA) with standard deviations <1 dB. For the target words, the mean amplitudes were −19.9 dB (Auditec) and −18.3 dB (VA) with standard deviations ranging from 1.3 to 2.4 dB. The mean durations for the carrier phrases of both recordings were 593–594 msec, with the mean durations of the target words a little different, 509 msec (Auditec) and 528 msec (VA). Random relations were observed between the recognition performances and rms levels of the target words. Amplitude and temporal data for the individual words are provided. Conclusions: The rms levels of the carrier phrases closely approximated (±1 dB) the rms levels of the calibration tones, both of which were set to 0 vu (dB). The rms levels of the target words were 5–6 dB below the levels of the carrier phrases and were substantially more variable than the levels of the carrier phrases. The relation between the rms levels of the target words and recognition performances on the words was random.

scholarly journals Effects of the Carrier Phrase on Word Recognition Performances by Younger and Older Listeners Using Two Stimulus Paradigms

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (06) ◽  
pp. 412-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard H. Wilson ◽  
Victoria A. Sanchez
Keyword(s):  
Word Recognition ◽  
Target Word ◽  
Speaker Recognition ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Recognition Performance ◽  
Test Word ◽  
Root Mean Square Amplitude ◽  
Repeated Measures Design ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Background In the 1950s, with monitored live voice testing, the vu meter time constant and the short durations and amplitude modulation characteristics of monosyllabic words necessitated the use of the carrier phrase amplitude to monitor (indirectly) the presentation level of the words. This practice continues with recorded materials. To relieve the carrier phrase of this function, first the influence that the carrier phrase has on word recognition performance needs clarification, which is the topic of this study. Purpose Recordings of Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 by two female speakers were used to compare word recognition performances with and without the carrier phrases when the carrier phrase and test word were (1) in the same utterance stream with the words excised digitally from the carrier (VA-1 speaker) and (2) independent of one another (VA-2 speaker). The 50-msec segment of the vowel in the target word with the largest root mean square amplitude was used to equate the target word amplitudes. Research Design A quasi-experimental, repeated measures design was used. Study Sample Twenty-four young normal-hearing adults (YNH; M = 23.5 years; pure-tone average [PTA] = 1.3-dB HL) and 48 older hearing loss listeners (OHL; M = 71.4 years; PTA = 21.8-dB HL) participated in two, one-hour sessions. Data Collection and Analyses Each listener had 16 listening conditions (2 speakers × 2 carrier phrase conditions × 4 presentation levels) with 100 randomized words, 50 different words by each speaker. Each word was presented 8 times (2 carrier phrase conditions × 4 presentation levels [YNH, 0- to 24-dB SL; OHL, 6- to 30-dB SL]). The 200 recorded words for each condition were randomized as 8, 25-word tracks. In both test sessions, one practice track was followed by 16 tracks alternated between speakers and randomized by blocks of the four conditions. Central tendency and repeated measures analyses of variance statistics were used. Results With the VA-1 speaker, the overall mean recognition performances were 6.0% (YNH) and 8.3% (OHL) significantly better with the carrier phrase than without the carrier phrase. These differences were in part attributed to the distortion of some words caused by the excision of the words from the carrier phrases. With the VA-2 speaker, recognition performances on the with and without carrier phrase conditions by both listener groups were not significantly different, except for one condition (YNH listeners at 8-dB SL). The slopes of the mean functions were steeper for the YNH listeners (3.9%/dB to 4.8%/dB) than for the OHL listeners (2.4%/dB to 3.4%/dB) and were <1%/dB steeper for the VA-1 speaker than for the VA-2 speaker. Although the mean results were clear, the variability in performance differences between the two carrier phrase conditions for the individual participants and for the individual words was striking and was considered in detail. Conclusion The current data indicate that word recognition performances with and without the carrier phrase (1) were different when the carrier phrase and target word were produced in the same utterance with poorer performances when the target words were excised from their respective carrier phrases (VA-1 speaker), and (2) were the same when the carrier phrase and target word were produced as independent utterances (VA-2 speaker).

Effects of the Carrier Phrase on Word-Recognition Performances by Younger and Older Listeners Using Two Stimulus Paradigms

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard H. Wilson ◽  
Victoria A. Sanchez
Keyword(s):  
Word Recognition ◽  
Target Word ◽  
Speaker Recognition ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Recognition Performance ◽  
Test Word ◽  
Root Mean Square Amplitude ◽  
Repeated Measures Design ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Individual

Background: In the 1950s, with monitored live voice testing, the vu meter time constant and the shortdurations and amplitude modulation characteristics of monosyllabic words necessitated the use of the carrierphrase amplitude tomonitor (indirectly) the presentation level of the words. This practice continues withrecorded materials. To relieve the carrier phrase of this function, first the influence that the carrier phrasehas on word recognition performance needs clarification, which is the topic of this study.<br />Purpose: Recordings of Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 by two female speakers were usedto compare word recognition performances with and without the carrier phrases when the carrier phraseand test word were (1) in the same utterance stream with the words excised digitally from the carrier (VA-1speaker) and (2) independent of one another (VA-2 speaker). The 50-msec segment of the vowel in thetarget word with the largest root mean square amplitude was used to equate the target word amplitudes.<br />Research Design: A quasi-experimental, repeated measures design was used.<br />Study Sample: Twenty-four young normal-hearing adults (YNH; M = 23.5 years; pure-tone average[PTA] = 1.3-dB HL) and 48 older hearing loss listeners (OHL; M = 71.4 years; PTA = 21.8-dB HL) participatedin two, one-hour sessions.<br />Data Collection and Analyses: Each listener had 16 listening conditions (2 speakers 3 2 carrier phraseconditions 3 4 presentation levels) with 100 randomized words, 50 different words by each speaker.Each word was presented 8 times (2 carrier phrase conditions 3 4 presentation levels [YNH, 0- to24-dB SL; OHL, 6- to 30-dB SL]). The 200 recorded words for each condition were randomized as 8,25-word tracks. In both test sessions, one practice track was followed by 16 tracks alternated betweenspeakers and randomized by blocks of the four conditions. Central tendency and repeated measuresanalyses of variance statistics were used.<br />Results: With the VA-1 speaker, the overall mean recognition performances were 6.0% (YNH) and 8.3%(OHL) significantly better with the carrier phrase than without the carrier phrase. These differences werein part attributed to the distortion of some words caused by the excision of the words from the carrierphrases. With the VA-2 speaker, recognition performances on the with and without carrier phrase conditionsby both listener groups were not significantly different, except for one condition (YNH listeners at8-dB SL). The slopes of the mean functions were steeper for the YNH listeners (3.9%/dB to 4.8%/dB) thanfor the OHL listeners (2.4%/dB to 3.4%/dB) and were <1%/dB steeper for the VA-1 speaker than for theVA-2 speaker. Although the mean results were clear, the variability in performance differences betweenthe two carrier phrase conditions for the individual participants and for the individual words was strikingand was considered in detail.<br />Conclusion: The current data indicate that word recognition performances with and without the carrierphrase (1) were different when the carrier phrase and target word were produced in the same utterancewith poorer performances when the target words were excised from their respective carrier phrases(VA-1 speaker), and (2) were the same when the carrier phrase and target word were produced as independentutterances (VA-2 speaker).<br />See the Supplementary Data tab for supplementary materials.

scholarly journals Psychometric Characteristics of Spanish Monosyllabic, Bisyllabic, and Trisyllabic Words for Use in Word-Recognition Protocols

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (07) ◽  
pp. 531-546
Author(s):  
Mitzarie A. Carlo ◽  
Richard H. Wilson ◽  
Albert Villanueva-Reyes
Keyword(s):  
Word Recognition ◽  
Recognition Performance ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Hearing Level ◽  
Psychometric Characteristics ◽  
Plural Form ◽  
Individual Word ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Background English materials for speech audiometry are well established. In Spanish, speech-recognition materials are not standardized with monosyllables, bisyllables, and trisyllables used in word-recognition protocols. Purpose This study aimed to establish the psychometric characteristics of common Spanish monosyllabic, bisyllabic, and trisyllabic words for potential use in word-recognition procedures. Research Design Prospective descriptive study. Study Sample Eighteen adult Puerto Ricans (M = 25.6 years) with normal hearing [M = 7.8-dB hearing level (HL) pure-tone average] were recruited for two experiments. Data Collection and Analyses A digital recording of 575 Spanish words was created (139 monosyllables, 359 bisyllables, and 77 trisyllables), incorporating materials from a variety of Spanish word-recognition lists. Experiment 1 (n = 6) used 25 randomly selected words from each of the three syllabic categories to estimate the presentation level ranges needed to obtain recognition performances over the 10 to 90% range. In Experiment 2 (n = 12) the 575 words were presented over five 1-hour sessions using presentation levels from 0- to 30-dB HL in 5-dB steps (monosyllables), 0- to 25-dB HL in 5-dB steps (bisyllables), and −3- to 17-dB HL in 4-dB steps (trisyllables). The presentation order of both the words and the presentation levels were randomized for each listener. The functions for each listener and each word were fit with polynomial equations from which the 50% points and slopes at the 50% point were calculated. Results The mean 50% points and slopes at 50% were 8.9-dB HL, 4.0%/dB (monosyllables), 6.9-dB HL, 5.1%/dB (bisyllables), and 1.4-dB HL, 6.3%/dB (trisyllables). The Kruskal–Wallis test with Mann–Whitney U post-hoc analysis indicated that the mean 50% points and slopes at the 50% points of the individual word functions were significantly different among the syllabic categories. Although significant differences were observed among the syllabic categories, substantial overlap was noted in the individual word functions, indicating that the psychometric characteristics of the words were not dictated exclusively by the syllabic number. Influences associated with word difficulty, word familiarity, singular and plural form words, phonetic stress patterns, and gender word patterns also were evaluated. Conclusion The main finding was the direct relation between the number of syllables in a word and word-recognition performance. In general, words with more syllables were more easily recognized; there were, however, exceptions. The current data from young adults with normal hearing established the psychometric characteristics of the 575 Spanish words on which the formulation of word lists for both threshold and suprathreshold measures of word-recognition abilities in quiet and in noise and other word-recognition protocols can be based.

Effect of Story Context on Children's Ongoing Word Recognition

1981 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick M. Schwantes
Keyword(s):  
Word Recognition ◽  
Target Word ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Context Effects ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Developmental Differences ◽  
Prior Work ◽  
Specific Target ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Target Words

In this study, the reading time of specific target words embedded within an extended and meaningful story context was measured. The target words were either congruous or incongruous with the story context. Results indicated that the mean difference between these target word types did not significantly vary between third and sixth grade children when these words were presented in isolation. However, this mean reading time difference between target types was found to be greater for the younger as compared to the older readers when these words were embedded within the story context. These findings extend prior work in this area and indicate that developmental differences in context effects during ongoing word recognition are present under conditions which require the comprehension and memory of extended and specific story material. The results are discussed in terms of an interactive-compensatory model of reading.

Word Recognition in Multitalker Babble Measured with Two Psychophysical Methods

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (08) ◽  
pp. 622-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard H. Wilson ◽  
Christopher A. Burks ◽  
Deborah G. Weakley
Keyword(s):  
Word Recognition ◽  
Background Noise ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Recognition Performance ◽  
Random Presentation ◽  
Presentation Level ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Northwestern University ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Relationship

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the relationship between psychometric functions for words presented in multitalker babble using a descending presentation level protocol and a random presentation level protocol. Forty veterans (mean = 63.5 years) with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing losses were enrolled. Seventy of the Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 words spoken by the VA female speaker were presented at seven signal-to-babble ratios from 24 to 0 dB (10 words/step). Although the random procedure required 69 sec longer to administer than the descending protocol, there was no significant difference between the results obtained with the two psychophysical methods. There was almost no relation between the perceived ability of the listeners to understand speech in background noise and their measured ability to understand speech in multitalker babble. Likewise, there was a tenuous relation between pure-tone thresholds and performance on the words in babble and between recognition performance in quiet and performance on the words in babble.

Orthographic and phonological parafoveal processing of consonants, vowels, and tones when reading Thai

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 739-759 ◽  
Author(s):  
HEATHER WINSKEL
Keyword(s):  
Word Recognition ◽  
Target Word ◽  
Eye Movement ◽  
Lexical Access ◽  
Lexical Tone ◽  
Parafoveal Processing ◽  
Subsequent Processing ◽  
Target Words

ABSTRACTFour eye movement experiments investigated whether readers use parafoveal input to gain information about the phonological or orthographic forms of consonants, vowels, and tones in word recognition when reading Thai silently. Target words were presented in sentences preceded by parafoveal previews in which consonant, vowel, or tone information was manipulated. Previews of homophonous consonants (Experiment 1) and concordant vowels (Experiment 2) did not substantially facilitate processing of the target word, whereas the identical previews did. Hence, orthography appears to be playing the prominent role in early word recognition for consonants and vowels. Incorrect tone marker previews (Experiment 3) substantially retarded the subsequent processing of the target word, indicating that lexical tone plays an important role in early word recognition. Vowels in VOP (Experiment 4) did not facilitate processing, which points to vowel position being a significant factor. Primarily, orthographic codes of consonants and vowels (HOP) in conjunction with tone information are assembled from parafoveal input and used for early lexical access.

Lexical neighborhoods and phonological confusability in cross-dialect word recognition in noise

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia G. Clopper ◽  
Janet B. Pierrehumbert ◽  
Terrin N. Tamati
Keyword(s):  
Word Recognition ◽  
Target Word ◽  
Recognition Performance ◽  
Spoken Word Recognition ◽  
Spoken Word ◽  
Neighborhood Density ◽  
Minimal Pair ◽  
Dialect Variation ◽  
Vowel Recognition ◽  
Stimulus Materials

AbstractLexical neighborhood density is a well-known factor affecting phonological categorization in spoken word recognition. The current study examined the interaction between lexical neighborhood density and dialect variation in spoken word recognition in noise. The stimulus materials were real English words produced in two regional American English dialects. To manipulate lexical neighborhood density, target words were selected so that predicted phonological confusions across dialects resulted in real English words in the word-competitor condition and did not result in real English words in the nonword-competitor condition. Word and vowel recognition performance were more accurate in the nonword-competitor condition than the word-competitor condition for both talker dialects. An examination of the responses to specific vowels revealed the role of dialect variation in eliciting this effect. When the predicted phonological confusions were real lexical neighbors, listeners could respond with either the target word or the confusable minimal pair, and were more likely than expected to produce a minimal pair differing from the target by one vowel. When the predicted phonological confusions were not real words, however, the listeners exhibited less lexical competition and responded with the target word or a minimal pair differing by one consonant.

A Picture Identification Task as an Estimate of the Word-Recognition Performance of Nonverbal Adults

1980 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard H. Wilson ◽  
June K. Antablin
Keyword(s):  
Word Recognition ◽  
Recognition Performance ◽  
Test Word ◽  
Stimulus Presentation ◽  
Identification Task ◽  
Closed Set ◽  
Open Set ◽  
Northwestern University ◽  
Monosyllabic Words ◽  
Picture Identification

The Picture Identification Task was developed to estimate the word-recognition performance of nonverbal adults. Four lists of 50 monosyllabic words each were assembled and recorded. Each test word and three rhyming alternatives were illustrated and photographed in a quadrant arrangement. The task of the patient was to point to the picture representing the recorded word that was presented through the earphone. In the first experiment with young adults, no significant differences were found between the Picture Identification Task and the Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 materials in an open-set response paradigm. In the second experiment, the Picture Identification Task with the picture-pointing response was compared with the Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 in both an open-set and a closed-set response paradigm. The results from this experiment demonstrated significant differences among the three response tasks. The easiest task was a closed-set response to words, the next was a closed-set response to pictures, and the most difficult task was an open-set response. At high stimulus-presentation levels, however, the three tasks produced similar results. Finally, the clinical use of the Picture Identification Task is described along with preliminary results obtained from 30 patients with various communicative impairments.

Acoustic-Reflex Growth and Loudness

1979 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G. Block ◽  
Terry L. Wiley
Keyword(s):  
Acoustic Impedance ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Broadband Noise ◽  
Reflex Response ◽  
Impedance Change ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Growth Functions ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Standard Deviations ◽  
The Individual

Acoustic-reflex growth functions and loudness-balance judgments were obtained for three normal-hearing subjects with normal middle-ear function. The hypothesis that acoustic reflex-activating signals producing proportionately equal acoustic-impedance changes are judged equal in loudness was evaluated. The mean acoustic impedance and associated standard deviations were computed for the baseline (static) and activator (reflex) portions of each reflex event. An acoustic-impedance change exceeding two standard deviations of baseline was defined as the criterion acoustic-reflex response. Acoustic impedance was measured as a function of activator SPL for broadband noise and a 1000-Hz tone from criterion magnitude to the maximum acoustic impedance (or 120-dB SPL). This was defined as the dynamic range of reflex growth. Loudness-balance measurements were made for the 1000-Hz tone and broadband noise at SPL’s representing 30, 50, and 70% of the individual dynamic range. The data supported the hypothesis.

scholarly journals The Effects of Onset and Offset Masking on the Time Course of Non-Native Spoken-Word Recognition in Noise

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Hintz ◽  
Cesko Voeten ◽  
James McQueen ◽  
Odette Scharenborg
Keyword(s):  
Word Recognition ◽  
Target Word ◽  
Background Noise ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Spoken Word Recognition ◽  
Spoken Word ◽  
Word Onset ◽  
Intermittent Noise ◽  
Noise Experiment ◽  
Target Words

Using the visual-word paradigm, the present study investigated the effects of word onset and offset masking on the time course of non-native spoken-word recognition in the presence of background noise. In two experiments, Dutch non-native listeners heard English target words, preceded by carrier sentences that were noise-free (Experiment 1) or contained intermittent noise (Experiment 2). Target words were either onset- or offset-masked or not masked at all. Results showed that onset masking delayed target word recognition more than offset masking did, suggesting that – similar to natives – non-native listeners strongly rely on word onset information during word recognition in noise.

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