Relationships Between Thai EFL Learners’ Factors, Intelligibility, and Comprehensibility Towards Varieties of English

This study aims to investigate intelligibility levels of Thai EFL learners, relationship between intelligibility and learners’ variables, and relationship between intelligibility and comprehensibility scores toward varieties of English. Seventy-five students were recruited as a sample group through stratified random sampling technique. Seven research instruments were used in the study, including a quick placement test, a questionnaire, an intelligibility test, an accent familiarity judgment report, a comprehensibility test, an attitudinal test, and four speech samples produced by speakers of 4 different nationalities. Data were quantitatively analyzed by means of arithmetic mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s correlation coefficients. The findings revealed that Thai EFL learners received high scores in their intelligibility tests for all speech samples. Thai speaker was rated as the most intelligible to the learners, while American speaker was rated as the least intelligible one. Correlations between intelligibility and other learners’ variables were found only in accent familiarity, language proficiency, and attitude. A significant correlation was also found between intelligibility and comprehensibility scores towards varieties of English of Thai EFL learners.

Risk Factors for Subtypes of Children with Speech Sound Disorders Classified by Linguistic Symptoms

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate 22 risk factors for speech sound disorders (SSDs) and to find out whether there are differences in risk factors for each subtype of SSDs of Dodd’s model.Methods: Sixty-two children with SSDs aged 3-9 years participated in the study, and 22 risk factors reported in literature were investigated through parental interviews and a nonverbal intelligibility test. Children with SSDs were divided into children with articulation disorders, phonological delays, and consistent/inconsistent phonological disorders.Results: As a result of the principal component analysis, 22 risk factors were classified into 1) language and gross motor development, 2) gender and early development, 3) otitis media with effusion, 4) socioeconomic status, and 5) family history. Among all risk factors, only general developmental delay around 2 years of age showed a significantly different frequency among subtypes of SSDs.Conclusion: This study directly investigated the risk factors of children with SSDs and classified a number of risk factors into five categories. This study suggests that if children show early general developmental delays, they should be closely monitored and early evaluation and interventions should be planned.

Cochlea implantation in patients with superficial hemosiderosis

Introduction Superficial hemosiderosis is a sub-form of hemosiderosis in which the deposits of hemosiderin in the central nervous system damage the nerve cells. This form of siderosis is caused by chronic cerebral hemorrhages, especially subarachnoid hemorrhages. The diversity of symptoms depends on the respective damage to the brain, but in most of the cases it shows up as incipient unilateral or bilateral hearing loss, ataxia and signs of pyramidal tracts. We are investigating the question of whether cochlear implantation is a treatment option for patients with superficial hemosiderosis and which strategy of diagnostic procedure has to be ruled out preoperatively. Materials and methods In a tertiary hospital between 2009 and 2018, we examined (N = 5) patients with radiologically confirmed central hemosiderosis who suffered from profound hearing loss to deafness were treated with a cochlear implant (CI). We compared pre- and postoperative speech comprehension (Freiburg speech intelligibility test for monosyllables and HSM sentence test). Results Speech understanding improved on average by 20% (monosyllabic test in the Freiburg speech intelligibility test) and by 40% in noise (HSM sentence test) compared to preoperative speech understanding with optimized hearing aids. Discussion The results show that patients with superficial siderosis benefit from CI with better speech understanding. The results are below the average for all postlingual deaf CI patients. Superficial siderosis causes neural damages, which explains the reduced speech understanding based on central hearing loss. It is important to correctly weigh the patient's expectations preoperatively and to include neurologists within the therapy procedure.

Selection of the optimal first ear for sequential bilateral cochlear implantation in children

Objectives When there is a difference in hearing on both ears, where to perform the first cochlear implantation (CI) becomes an important issue. The purpose of the study was to evaluate which ear should be chosen for the first implantation in sequential bilateral CI with a long inter-implant period. Methods The study population consisted of 34 severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss pediatrics with the inter-implant period of ≥3 years between the first CI (CI-1) and the second CI (CI-2) before the age of 19 (mean of inter-implant period: 7.1-year). The patients were classified into Group A (CI-1 was performed on the ear with better hearing), Group B (CI-1 on the ear with worse hearing), or Group C (symmetrical hearing in both ears). Speech intelligibility test results were compared between the groups. Results The monosyllabic word scores of CI-1 were excellent in Groups A (91.7±7.9%) and B (92.5±3.6%) but slightly lower in Group C (85.7±14.9%) before the second implantation ( P = .487). At 3 years after the second implantation, all groups demonstrated excellent scores in the bilateral CI condition (95.9±3.0% in Group A; 99.1±.8% in Group B; 97.5±2.9% in Group C, P = .600). However, when the patients were tested in using CI-2 only in Groups A and B after using bilateral CI for 3 years, the scores were inconsistent in Group A (79.6±23.9%; range: 22.2-94.4%), while those were higher and more constant in Group B (92.9±4.8%; 86.8-100.0%). Conclusions The first CI is strongly recommended to perform on a worse hearing ear if they had different hearing levels between ears. Even with the first CI on a worse hearing ear, its performance never deteriorates. In addition, if they receive the second CI several years later, it will be likely that the second one functions better.

A method for simulation the effect of the reduced frequency resolution of the ear in patients with sensorineural hearing loss

A method for the simulation of reduced frequency resolution of the ear in patients with sensorineural hearing loss is proposed. The method is based upon the ability to adjust it according to the audiogram of a concrete person by frame-by-frame signal processing in the frequency domain. Simulation of the effect of the reduced frequency resolution of the ear is achieved by processing the components of amplitude spectrum of the original sound signal by the "smearing" function. The "smearing" function is formed from the amplitude-frequency characteristics of the auditory filters, which bandwidth is determined by the audiogram of the deaf person. The proposed method is implemented in the MATLAB. An experimental study of the effect of the reduced frequency resolution of the ear using the speech intelligibility test was conducted. The experiment involved 15 people who listened the records processed by the proposed method with various settings and noise conditions. Experimental data have shown that reduced frequency resolution of the ear leads to the deterioration in speech intelligibility, especially in the presence of background noise. Based on the answers of the participants of the experiment, the confusion tables of sounds were compiled, reflecting the fact of indistinguishability of sounds similar in frequency, that confirms the correctness of the proposed method.

The Effect of Clear Speech on Cantonese Alaryngeal Speakers’ Intelligibility

<b><i>Background/Aim:</i></b> The purpose of this study was to provide preliminary data concerning the effect of clear speech (CS) on Cantonese alaryngeal speakers’ intelligibility. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Voice recordings of 11 sentences randomly selected from the Cantonese Sentence Intelligibility Test (CSIT) were obtained from 31 alaryngeal speakers (9 electrolarynx [EL] users, 10 esophageal speakers and 12 tracheoesophageal [TE] speakers) in habitual speech (HS) and CS. Two naïve listeners orthographically transcribed a total of 1,364 sentences. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Significant effects of speaking condition on speaking rate and CSIT scores were observed, but no significant effect of alaryngeal communication methods was noted. CS was significantly slower than HS by 0.78 syllables/s. Esophageal speakers demonstrated the slowest speech rate when using CS, while EL users demonstrated the largest decrease in speaking rate when using CS compared to HS. TE speakers had the highest CSIT scores in HS (listener 1 = 81.4%; listener 2 = 81.3%), and esophageal speakers had the highest CSIT scores in CS (listener 1 = 87.5%; listener 2 = 89.7%). EL users experienced the largest increase in intelligibility while using CS compared to HS (9.1%) followed by esophageal speakers (8.9%) and TE speakers (1.4%). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Preliminary data indicate that CS may significantly affect Cantonese alaryngeal speakers’ speaking rate and intelligibility. However, intelligibility appeared to vary considerably across speakers. Further research involving larger, heterogeneous groups of speakers and listeners alongside longer and more refined CS training protocols should be conducted to confirm that CS can improve Cantonese alaryngeal speakers’ intelligibility.

Effects of Finding the Speech-Language Pathologist Likeable on Postlaryngectomy Speech Intelligibility Outcomes

Introduction: Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work with patients after total laryngectomy (TL) to regain verbal communication. The influence of the quality of the therapeutic relationship on the success of TL voice rehabilitation in terms of speech intelligibility is not known. Finding each other likeable is an important factor in establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships in everyday life. The fit of therapist and client is relevant to the therapeutic relationship. The purpose of this study therefore was to assess the association between the degree of SLPs’ likeability ratings and postlaryngectomy speech intelligibility. Methods: In a multicentre prospective cohort study, participants rated their SLPs’ likeability after finishing TL rehabilitation. Speech intelligibility was measured objectively with the Post-Laryngectomy Telephone Intelligibility Test and subjectively with the Questionnaire for Adjustment after Laryngectomy. The association of SLPs’ likeability with speech intelligibility was analysed using hierarchical logistic regression, expressed with odds ratios (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Altogether 124 patients from 13 institutions participated. The degree of finding the SLP likeable was not significantly associated with objective speech intelligibility (OR 1.30; 95% CI 0.78–2.18; p = 0.32) or subjective speech intelligibility (OR 1.01; 95% CI 0.60–1.72; p = 0.96) after controlling for age, sex and education factors. Discussion/Conclusion: In this patient cohort, there was no evidence for an association between ratings of SLPs’ likeability and speech intelligibility outcomes after rehabilitation. Future studies could consider the use of alternative instruments for measuring likeability.

Dutch speech intelligibility in bilingual Turkish-Dutch children in Flanders

This study examines the Dutch intelligibility of a group of monolingual Dutch and bilingual Turkish-Dutch preschool children in Flanders, as rated by native Dutch listeners and measured by a Dutch intelligibility test. The intelligibility of the bilingual children is compared to that of the monolingual Dutch children, in order to examine whether age and/or task effects are similar or different in the two groups. The results revealed that intelligibility was affected by age, but showed no significant interaction between age and group. However, we found a significant interaction between age and task: children’s intelligibility increased with age for a word production as well as a sentence production task, but much more so for the latter than for the former. We discuss the results in relation to the children’s developing phonological systems, the age of exposure to Dutch and the nature of the test.