The Factors Affecting the Perception of Malayalam Time Compressed Speech in Children and Young Adults

Prashanth Prabhu,Mizna Abdul Rasheed,Theertha Dinesh

doi:10.4172/2471-9455.1000116

Abstract

Objective: It was attempted to determine whether the speech identification scores (SIS) vary across compression ratios for Malayalam time compressed speech and monosyllables in children and young adults. The study attempted to assess stimulus and subject factors affecting the perception of Malayalam time compressed speech and monosyllables in children and young adults. Method: PB words and monosyllables were time compressed at compression ratios of 50%, 60%, 70% and 80%. The speech identification scores were determined for each compression ratio for both stimuli in children and young adults. Results: The speech identification scores (SIS) decreased with increase in compression ratio and there was no gender effect. The scores were poorer for children compared to young adults. The SIS was better for monosyllables at higher compression ratios. Conclusion: The study recommends using 50% compression ratio while testing clinical population in children and young adults. Thus, understanding the factors affecting Malayalam time compressed speech helps in better utilization of the test in clinical population.

Highlights

Auditory processing requires acquisition of auditory processes namely sound localization and lateralization; auditory discrimination; auditory pattern recognition; audition in temporal aspects; auditory performance in competing acoustic signals; and auditory performance with degraded acoustic signals [1,2,3]
Understanding the factors affecting Malayalam time compressed speech helps in better utilization of the test in clinical population
The scores obtained for phonemically balanced (PB) words by both the groups across different compression ratios are shown in figure 1

Summary

Introduction

Auditory processing requires acquisition of auditory processes namely sound localization and lateralization; auditory discrimination; auditory pattern recognition; audition in temporal aspects; auditory performance in competing acoustic signals; and auditory performance with degraded acoustic signals [1,2,3]. If a person has abnormality in any one or more of these processes he/she is referred to as having (Central) auditory processing disorder [(C) APD] [1]. This abnormality is not because of the problem in language, cognitive or other factors [1]. Central auditory processing disorders [(C) APD] are usually assessed using a battery of tests. Baran [4] classified the test battery for (C) APD into five categories namely dichotic tests, auditory temporal processing and patterning tests, binaural interaction tests, monoaural low-redundancy tests, and electrophysiologic tests. Auditory closure abilities are usually assessed using monoaural low redundancy tests. One of the common monoaural low redundancy test is the time compressed speech test [5]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion