Sound Errors Research Articles

Relationship Between Speech Sound Disorders and Neuropsychological Skills With the Mediating Role of Parenting Styles and Mother’s Depression: Memory and Visuospatial Skills

Background and Aims Speech sound disorders (SSD) are a type of communication disorder where normal speech acquisition is disrupted. Children with SSD make speech sound errors that may impact speech intelligibility for others. Factors and variables associated with this disorder have been the matter of investigation in some studies: However, for the present study, the relationship among neuropsychological skills (Memory skill and visuospatial skill), parenting styles (authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive), and mother’s depression with SSD has been investigated in a single model. Methods This study is analytical and descriptive, and the correlation method of structural equation modeling (SEM) is used to examine the data. A total of 117 preschool children (aged 4-6 years) with SSD were recruited using purposive sampling from speech and language therapy clinics and through the kindergarten screening method using Ahmadi et al.’s test. Conners neuropsychological rating scale, Baumrind’s parenting styles, and Beck depression inventory are applied to each subject and then completed by mothers. The AMOS software analyzed the data using correlation, regression, path analysis, and structural equation methods. Results The statistical analysis showed that the correlation and effect of memory skills on SSD are significant (P=0.023 <0.05). However, it is not significant with the mediating role of parenting styles (authoritarian style: P=0.715, authoritative style: P=0.306, and permissive style: P=0.689) and mother depression (P=0.531 >0.05). On the other hand, despite being a strong and remarkable variable, the correlation and effect of visual-spatial skill on SSD are not significant (P=0.054 >0.05). There is also no significant correlation and effect of visual-spatial skill on SSD with the mediating role of parenting styles (authoritarian style: P=0.497, authoritative style: P=0.268, and permissive style: P=0.949) and mother depression (P=0.414 >0.05). Conclusion The results revealed that memory and visual-spatial skills have a significant direct correlation and effect on SSD. The more memory and visual-spatial problems, the more errors in sounds (phonemes) there will be. The correlation and effect of memory and visual-spatial skills on SSD with the mediating role of parenting styles and maternal depression are not considerable.

THE SPEECH SOUND ERRORS AND LITERACY SKILLS IN CHILDREN WITH OROFACIAL CLEFTS

Objective: To investigate the speech sound errors and literacy skills in children with orofacial clefts (cleft palate& cleft lip and palate).
 Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study.
 Place and Duration of Study: Centre for Clinical Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, from Mar 2016 to Feb 2017.
 Methodology: A sample of 42 participants (cleft lip & palate: n=18 and cleft palate: n=24) was collected. Two stage sampling strategy was used. Each child was individually screened through Slosson intelligence test revised checklist of orofacial cleft and diagnostic statistical Manual-V checklist. Then children were provided with assessment measures which included demographic informational questionnaire, community developed VPI Screener, word list for articulation and phonological processes, annual status of education report (ASER) and curriculum-based measurement (Written Expression). Manual SODA (substitution, omission, distortion and addition) analysis was done to know about the type of speech sound errors.
 Results: Independent sample t-test was used to compare the differences of speech sound errors (52.11 ± 25.08), (47.29 ± 25.38), reading skills (3.67 ± 1.14), (3.75 ± 1.26) and writing skills (14.61 ± 13.49), (25.14 ± 29.16) in cleft lip & palate and cleft palate respectively, indicated that there were no differences; with p-value: p=0.54, 0.83, 0.13.
 Conclusion: Results indicated no significant differences in speech sound errors, reading, writing skills and resonance between children with cleft lip & palate and cleft palate.

The Effect of Tongue-Tie Release on Speech Articulation and Intelligibility.

The relationship between ankyloglossia and speech is controversial. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of tongue-tie release on speech articulation and intelligibility. A prospective cohort study was conducted. Pediatric patients (>2years of age) being referred for speech concerns due to ankyloglossia were assessed by a pediatric otolaryngologist, and speech articulation was formally assessed by a speech language pathologist using the Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation 2 (GFTA-2). Patients then underwent a tongue-tie release procedure in clinic. After 1month, speech articulation was reassessed with GFTA-2. Audio-recordings of sessions were evaluated by independent reviewers to assess speech intelligibility before and after tongue-tie release. Twenty-five participants were included (mean age 3.7years; 20 boys). The most common speech errors identified were phonological substitutions (80%) and gliding errors (56%). Seven children (28%) had abnormal lingual-alveolar and interdental sounds. Most speech sound errors (87.9%) were age/developmentally appropriate. GFTA-2 standard scores before and after tongue-tie release were 85.61 (SD 9.75) and 87.54 (SD 10.21), respectively, (P=.5). Mean intelligibility scores before and after tongue-tie release were 3.15 (SD .22) and 3.21 (SD .31), respectively, (P=.43). The majority of children being referred for speech concerns thought to be due to ankyloglossia had age-appropriate speech errors at presentation. Ankyloglossia was not associated with isolated tongue mobility related speech articulation errors in a consistent manner, and there was no benefit of tongue-tie release in improving speech articulation or intelligibility.

Synchronized measurements of noise characteristics and flow regimes near the thermal expansion valve using R134a refrigerant

• Quantitative flow-induced noise prediction model. • Synchronized measurements of flow-induced noise and flow regimes. • Comparison between noise modeling and experimental measurements. • Distinguished flow-induced noise waveforms for different flow regimes. Flow-induced noise in the expansion device can be very disturbing. The thermal expansion valve is usually positioned near the occupants, often resulting in flow-induced noise that can be perceived as annoying. Current studies lack a quantitative relationship between flow characteristics and flow-induced noise. Therefore, in this paper, a noise prediction model is proposed to predict the sound pressure level of flow-induced noise. The study utilizes a pumped R134a loop for synchronized measurements between flow-induced noise and flow regimes. Synchronized high-speed measurements obtained from a microphone and a high-speed camera enable simultaneous investigation of flow-induced noise and flow regimes. In this case, the experimental results find a gurgling noise distributing near 9 kHz. Using the TXV inlet pressure for calculating thermodynamic properties, the gurgling noise sound pressure level prediction error is less than 15%. A hissing noise distributing at around 15 kHz is not as noticeable as the gurgling noise. The error of sound pressure level prediction for hissing noise is less than 40%. Both the experimental results and the modeling results show that the sound pressure level of gurgling noise increases as the vapor mass fraction increases or the system mass flux increases. From the experimental results, the noise waveforms are distinguished. The model can correctly outline the shape of noise waveforms for different flow regimes with the help of visualizations. The model introduced in this paper shows the proper prediction for flow-induced noise except for the annular flow entering the valve.

Calibration system design for multi-beam sonar

A set of calibration system for multi-beam sonar is designed by the principle and method of underwater acoustic metrology. Using the multi-dimensional operation control device, the calibration for acoustical index is completed in the anechoic pool, including the sound source level and beam width. The calibration for geometrical index is carried out in the large scale and deep-water prototype pool, including the bathymetric accuracy. Components and method of the calibration system are introduced, as well as the expanded uncertainty of the calibration system is presented. By comparing the calibrating value and the indicating or nominal value of the detected multi-beam sonar, test results show that the sound source level error is less than 0.7dB, the beam width indication error is less than 10% and the bathymetry value error is less than 0.2%.

Speech Outcomes of a National Cohort of Children with Orofacial Cleft at 5 and 10 Years of age.

To assess speech outcomes at five and ten years of age in a nationwide study of children with orofacial cleft. Prospective study. Children born with orofacial cleft and having primary surgery in New Zealand. Speech samples were available for 151 five-year-old, and 163 ten-year-old children. Intelligibility, Acceptability, Velopharyngeal function, Hypernasality, Hyponasality, severity of airflow evaluated by perceptual speech assessment (using the standardised Rhinocleft assessment), and overall assessment of requirement for clinical intervention. A large proportion of five-year-old children had speech that was considered to be not completely intelligible, was not acceptable, and had inadequate velopharyngeal function. The noted deficiencies led to a clinical judgement that further speech and/or surgical intervention was required in 85% with cleft lip and palate, 65% with cleft palate and 26% with cleft lip. The proportion of children with poor speech outcomes in the ten-year-old children was lower, though of clinical importance, further intervention required for 25% with CLP, 15% with CP and 3% with CL. The number of sound production errors in both age groups followed the same pattern with fewest in those with CL and most in those with CLP. A significant proportion of children with orofacial cleft were found to have poor speech outcomes requiring further treatment. The outcomes are poor compared to centres reported in the UK and Scandinavia. New Zealand requires a review of the current services for individuals born with cleft to improve speech outcomes and interdisciplinary care.

Psychosocial Comorbidities in Adolescents With Histories of Childhood Apraxia of Speech.

Purpose Adolescent psychosocial outcomes of individuals with histories of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) were compared to outcomes of individuals with histories of speech sound disorders (SSD) only and SSD with language impairment (LI). It was hypothesized that individuals with more severe and persistent disorders such as CAS would report poorer psychosocial outcomes. Method Groups were compared using analyses of variance on a psychosocial assessment battery that included measures of hyperactivity and inattention, anxiety, depression, internalizing and externalizing behaviors, thought problems, and social outcomes. Results Results revealed significant group differences on self-report of social problems and parent report of hyperactivity, thought problems, and social problems at adolescence. Compared to the SSD-only group, the CAS group had significantly higher parental ratings of hyperactivity and social problems in adolescence. The CAS and SSD + LI groups did not differ on psychosocial measures, possibly due to the high rate of comorbid LI in the CAS group. The CAS group also had more individuals who scored in the borderline/clinical range on self-report of social problems than the SSD-only group. The CAS group did not differ from the SSD + LI group in the number of participants scoring in the borderline/clinical range on measures. Conclusions Individuals with histories of CAS demonstrate increased rates of social problems and hyperactivity based on parent ratings compared to adolescents with histories of SSD only; however, most do not score within the clinical range. The persistence of speech sound errors combined with self-reported and parent-reported social difficulties suggests that speech-language pathologists should be sensitive to the social and emotional impact of CAS and make appropriate referrals to mental health professionals when warranted.

Long Term Speech and Feeding Outcomes in Patients With Pierre Robin Sequence.

Airway obstruction in newborns with Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) may be managed with tongue-lip adhesion (TLA), mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO), or tracheostomy to prevent airway compromise when conservative airway interventions fail or are contraindicated based on the type of obstruction present. Unfortunately, some of these procedures have the potential to affect a child's speech and feeding development. The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of all children with PRS treated at our institution in the last 25 years. Our primary outcomes of interests were: (1) consonant production errors; (2) achievement of full oral feeds; (3) need for prolonged gastrostomy tube feeds; and (4) avoidance of tracheostomy. Seven (7/73, 10%) children required intubation at birth for respiratory failure. Forty-two children were treated with TLA (42/73, 58%), 2 with MDO (2/73, 3%), and 1 (1/73, 1%) with tracheostomy. Twenty-one (21/73, 29%) were treated with conservative airway interventions. Of the 7 children requiring intubation, 1 required tracheostomy, and 6 required TLA. Five children who received TLA initially proceeded to tracheostomy. Of the 3 children who underwent MDO, 2 required tracheostomy. Of the 2 patients who underwent MDO, 2 failed, requiring tracheostomy. One child required tracheostomy as the first airway intervention. Among all children with PRS, /s,z/ speech errors were the most common. Children treated with conservative airway interventions had significantly fewer /sh/ errors at age 3 (X = 6.604, P < 0.05) relative to those treated with TLA, MDO, and/or tracheostomy. Consonant production errors extinguished over time, with significantly less /s,z/ errors produced at age 8 compared to at ages 3 (Z = -2.263, P < 0.01), 4 (Z = -2.449, P < 0.05), 5 (Z = -2.775, P < 0.01), and 6 (Z = -2.049, P < 0.05). Among all children, 70% (51/70) were able to achieve full oral feeds. This study describes speech-production and feeding outcomes in children with PRS. Tongue-tip sound errors, including /s,z/, are prominent early in speech development but later extinguish, a pattern of speech maturation that follows that of typically-developing children.Most children were able to achieve full oral feeds, with few requiring prolonged g-tube placement. We hope these results serve as a useful tool in managing speech and feeding in children with TLA, and when counselling patients with PRS requiring definitive airway surgery.

The Importance of Under-Keel Sound Velocity Sensor in Measuring Water Depth with Multibeam Echosounder

The basic and most commonly used application of modern multibeam echosounders (MBES) is the bathymetric survey. Surface sound velocity errors introduce errors on beam steering angles and consequently errors in depth and position values. Due to systematic malfunction and troubleshooting of the sound velocity sensor (SVS) on board Polish Navy hydrographic ship Arctowski, attempts to solve the problem were made. All the inspections and cleaning of the sensor were performed with the use of divers or while staying in the shipyard. Diving work did not always bring the expected results and periodic ship docking was quite expensive. The article shows the importance of the SVS sensor in bathymetric measurements using multibeam echosounder. Selected problems of the sensor operation and temporary solutions were presented. The paper provides a description of practical solutions implemented aboard the navy ship Arctowski. The idea and implementation were the result of the author’s experience gained during 18 years of service on board that ship.

Effect of the Sound Source Position Error on Distribution Characteristics of Underwater Shock Wave Bunching Sound Field

Curved reflection bunching technique of underwater plasma sound source (UPSS) uses the geometric characteristics of the curved reflector to reflect and bunching intense sound shock wave, so the center position error of the sound source is one of the important factors affecting the bunching performance of the shock wave. In this paper, the cause of the sound source position error is analyzed in detail, and nonlinear finite element software ANSYS/LS-DYNA (dynamic analysis software developed by LSTC) is used to establish the model of the shock wave bunching sound field. Through numerical simulations, the shock wave bunching sound field distribution characteristics under the influence of different position errors are comprehensively simulated, and the bunching performance of the shock wave and its influence law are deeply analyzed according to the simulation results. It provides guidance for reasonably controlling the machining error and installation error of the reflector and discharge electrode, estimating the effective discharge times of the discharge electrode, and formulating the design process.

A comparison of two phonological screening tools for French-speaking children

Purpose: To examine two screening tools for phonological production, the Evaluation Sommaire de la Phonologie chez l’enfant d’âge préscolaire (ESPP) and the Test de Phonologie du Français Canadien-Dépistage (TPFC-D), developed according to differing theoretical perspectives. The TPFC-D, designed according to nonlinear phonology, includes more words and contains a greater variety of segments across word structure as compared to the ESPP, which was guided by a linear phonological framework. The greater response rate to test items, time of administration, and phonological complexity were expected on the TPFC-D. Method: Each screening tool was administered to 14 4-year-old French-speaking children living in Central Canada. Paired samples t-tests compared children’s responses on the two tasks with regards to (a) response rate and time of administration, (b) an overall percentage of consonants correct (PCC) and percentage of vowel correct (PVC), and (c) complexity of productions (i.e. PCC and PVC in relation to word structure, Word Shape Match, Whole Word Match, Phonological Mean Length of Utterance (pMLU) and Proportion of Whole-Word Proximity). Result: Item response rates were higher for the TPFC-D whereas time of administration, PCC and PVC were similar for both the ESPP and TPFC-D. Complexity measures showed a higher proportion of deletions in clusters and higher pMLUs on the TPFC-D compared to the ESPP. Conclusion: Both screening measures are appropriate for speech-language pathologists who want to assess quickly pre-school-aged children. Since the TPFC-D is phonologically more complex, it is recommended for clinicians needing to screen children who likely present with multiple speech sound errors across their phonological system.

Method for estimating the radiated sound power of moving sound sources with linear array beamforming

Due to the existence of the Doppler effect, a frequency shift and band expansion occur in the measured signal that belongs to the moving sound source. To estimate the radiated sound power of the moving sound sources, this study proposes a method that is based on linear array beamforming. By applying this method, the influence of the Doppler effect on the received signal for each sensor is eliminated by interpolating the de-dopplerisation. The estimated result is obtained according to the conversion relation between the linear array beamforming output and the radiated sound power of the source. The sound power estimation error for the different motion states can be studied by considering the sound source frequency, amplitude, test distance, and other influencing factors by performing a simulation. The sound power estimation experiment of the double-moving sound sources verifies the effectiveness of the proposed method. Overall, the proposed methodology provides a simple and effective way to measure the radiated power of the moving sound sources.

Seafloor Geodesy From Repeated Multibeam Bathymetric Surveys: Application to Seafloor Displacement Caused by the 2011 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake

Repeated multibeam bathymetric surveys played an important role for understanding the distribution of coseismic seafloor displacement caused by the March 11, 2011 Mw 9.0 Tohoku-oki earthquake. After the earthquake, we collected bathymetric data along the same tracks obtained before the earthquake. The selected tracks were crossing the trench and extending from the landward to seaward trench slopes. We examined the seafloor displacement on the landward relative to the seaward by means of the difference in bathymetry before and after the earthquake. The multibeam bathymetric survey has the advantage of areal coverage. The repeated surveys clarified the areal distribution of the coseismic seafloor displacement. In the main rupture area, very large seafloor displacement was observed. Sharp bathymetric change at the trench axis provided solid evidence that the fault slip on the shallowest part of the megathrust reached the trench axis and peaked at the trench axis. The very large displacement is limited to the particular area. Smaller seafloor displacements were observed in the area tens of kilometers away from the main rupture area. We present methods and results of the repeated multibeam bathymetric surveys and an application to the seafloor displacement caused by the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake in the northern Japan Trench. Less than several meters in seafloor vertical displacements and less than 20 m in seafloor horizontal displacement were estimated in the northern Japan Trench. The estimated smaller displacements are comparable in magnitude to error of the seafloor displacement observation from our bathymetric survey. Nevertheless, three adjacent survey tracks showed coherent relative differences in seafloor elevation, which suggests the relative difference enables us to discuss the along-track variation in seafloor displacement in the area. However, our survey was affected by uncertainties of roll and pitch biases and sound velocity errors. Well-prepared repeated multibeam bathymetric survey for the purpose of seafloor geodesy could lead to a higher resolution and more accurate result. Repeated acquisition of high resolution and accuracy bathymetric data using state-of-the-art technology will be important to quantitative discussion of the seafloor displacements caused by even smaller magnitude earthquakes and tsunamis.

Spoken Vocabulary Outcomes of Toddlers With Developmental Delay After Parent-Implemented Augmented Language Intervention.

Purpose Early intervention using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) supports both receptive and expressive language skills. However, many parents and clinicians still worry that augmented language intervention might delay or impair speech development. This study aimed to (a) characterize and analyze the speech sound development of toddlers with developmental delay who participated in a parent-implemented language intervention; (b) examine the accuracy of speech sounds among toddlers who participated in an augmented language intervention using speech-generating devices and toddlers who participated in a traditional, spoken language intervention; and (c) examine the relationship between baseline factors (i.e., receptive and expressive language skills, vocal imitation, and number of unintelligible utterances) and the number of spoken target vocabulary words after intervention. Method This study used extant data from two randomized control trials of parent-implemented language interventions using AAC or spoken language. Out of 109 children who completed the intervention, 45 children produced spoken target vocabulary words at the end of the intervention. We identified and phonetically transcribed spoken target vocabulary words for each child and then classified them based on Shriberg and Kwiatkowski's (1982) developmental sound classes. Results Children's speech sound accuracy was not significantly different across intervention groups. Overall, children who produced more words had more speech sound errors and higher baseline language scores. Intervention group and baseline receptive and expressive language skills significantly predicted the number of spoken target vocabulary words produced at the end of intervention. Conclusions Participation in AAC intervention resulted in significantly more spoken target vocabulary words and no statistically significant differences in speech sound errors when compared to children who received spoken language intervention without AAC. Results support using AAC interventions for very young children without the fear that it will delay speech or spoken language development. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14265365.

Benefits of Binaural Integration in Cochlear Implant Patients with Single-Sided Deafness and Residual Hearing in the Implanted Ear.

The purpose of the study is to gauge the benefits of binaural integration effects (redundancy and squelch) due to preserved low-frequency residual hearing in the implanted ear of cochlear implant users with single-sided deafness. There were 11 cochlear implant users (age 18–61 years old) who had preserved low-frequency hearing in the implanted ear; they had a normal hearing or mild hearing loss in the contralateral ear. Patients were tested with monosyllabic words, under different spatial locations of speech and noise and with the cochlear implant activated and deactivated, in two listening configurations—one in which low frequencies in the implanted ear were masked and another in which they were unmasked. We also investigated how cochlear implant benefit due to binaural integration depended on unaided sound localization ability. Patients benefited from the binaural integration effects of redundancy and squelch only in the unmasked condition. Pearson correlations between binaural integration effects and unaided sound localization error showed significance only for squelch (r = −0.67; p = 0.02). Hearing preservation after cochlear implantation has considerable benefits because the preserved low-frequency hearing in the implanted ear contributes to binaural integration, presumably through the preserved temporal fine structure.

KESALAHAN BUNYI SIMAKAN PEMELAJAR BIPA TINGKAT PEMULA ASAL TIONGKOK

Listening skills are language skills that affect the development of language learning, especially for second language learners. In the learning process of listening skills, mistakes often occur. This can happen because of the influence of the first language on the second language learning process. This study aims to describe the sound errors by observing beginner BIPA learners from China who do not use the alphabet in their first language. This research is a text analysis research which analyzes the sound errors by listening to BIPA students' writing. Based on the analysis that has been done, it can be concluded that there are three categories of sound errors, namely changes in the sound at the beginning of the word, the middle of the word, and the end of the word. Each of these categories has changes, omissions, and even added sounds. (1) In the mistakes at the beginning of words, learners make many mistakes in bilabial, dental, and velar inhibitory sounds. (2) For errors in the middle of a word, learners made many mistakes in inhibiting, nasal, vibrating, and lateral sounds, as well as removing nasal sounds and adding vibrating consonants. (3) In the error at the end of the word, the learner removes the final consonants of the inhibiting and fricative sounds, as well as changing the nasal sound, the fricative sound becomes a vibration, and the glotal fricative sound becomes a dental plosive sound.

Concurrent Validity Between Two Sound Sequencing Tasks Used to Identify Childhood Apraxia of Speech in School-Age Children.

Purpose To assess the concurrent validity of two tasks used to inform diagnosis of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), this study evaluated the agreement between the Syllable Repetition Task (SRT) and the Maximum Repetition Rate of Trisyllables (MRR-Tri). Method A retrospective analysis was conducted with 80 children 7-16 years of age who were referred for treatment studies. All children had a speech sound disorder, and all completed both the SRT and the MRR-Tri. On each task, children were classified as meeting or not meeting the tool's threshold for CAS based on the sound sequencing errors demonstrated. Results The two tasks were in agreement for 47 participants (59% of the sample); both tasks classified 13 children as meeting the threshold for CAS and 34 children as not meeting the threshold for CAS. However, the two tasks disagreed on CAS classification for 33 children (41% of the sample). Overall, the MRR-Tri identified more children as having sound sequencing errors indicative of CAS (n = 39) than did the SRT (n = 20). Conclusions These two tasks of sound sequencing differ in the children they identify with CAS, possibly due to aspects of the underlying task requirements (e.g., time pressure). The SRT and the MRR-Tri should not be used in isolation to identify CAS but may be useful as part of a balanced CAS assessment battery that includes additional tasks that inform the nature of the impairment and that aid treatment planning. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14110280.

An assessment of speech, language, and literacy of children of young mothers attending supported playgroup

ABSTRACT Children growing up in disadvantage are more vulnerable to speech, language, and literacy difficulties, which are important in the acquisition of many different life skills. Despite supported playgroups engaging directly with families living in disadvantage, very few speech and language studies have been delivered within this setting. This study aimed to identify needs related to speech, language, and literacy of children of young mothers who were attending a supported playgroup in Brisbane, Australia. This was a cross-sectional study with 11 mother–child dyads. Child assessments were delivered by a speech pathologist and compared with normative data. Results indicate that children’s speech and language skills were age-appropriate, despite presenting with some speech sound errors. Children aged 4–5 years had difficulty with some literacy tasks. These findings suggest that future research or language interventions for the supported playgroup setting should provide language-learning opportunities that address speech sound production and early literacy skills.

Associations Between Speech Perception, Vocabulary, and Phonological Awareness Skill in School-Aged Children With Speech Sound Disorders.

Purpose Prior studies report conflicting descriptions of the relationships between phonological awareness (PA), vocabulary, and speech perception in preschoolers with speech disorders. This study sought to determine the nature of these relationships in a sample of school-aged children with residual speech sound errors affecting /ɹ/. Method Participants included 110 children aged 7;0-17;4 (years;months) with residual errors impacting /ɹ/. Data on perceptual acuity and perceptual bias in an /ɹ/ identification task, receptive vocabulary, and PA were obtained. A theoretically and empirically motivated path model was constructed with vocabulary mediating the relationship between two measures of speech perception and PA. Model parameters were determined through maximum likelihood estimation with standard errors that were robust to nonnormality. Monte Carlo simulation was used to examine achieved power at the current sample size. Results The saturated path model explained 19% of the variance in PA. The direct path between age-adjusted perceptual acuity and PA was significant, as was the direct path between vocabulary and PA. Contrary to our hypothesis, there was no evidence in the current sample that vocabulary skill mediated the relationship between speech perception and PA. Each individual path was adequately powered at the current sample size. Conclusions The overall model provided evidence for a continued relationship between speech perception, measured by perceptual acuity of the sound in error, and PA in school-aged children with residual speech errors. Thus, measures of speech perception remain relevant to the assessment of school-aged children and adolescents in this population. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.13641275.

Sound Localization Bias and Error in Bimodal Listeners Improve Instantaneously When the Device Delay Mismatch Is Reduced.

Users of a cochlear implant (CI) in one ear, who are provided with a hearing aid (HA) in the contralateral ear, so-called bimodal listeners, are typically affected by a constant and relatively large interaural time delay offset due to differences in signal processing and differences in stimulation. For HA stimulation, the cochlear travelling wave delay is added to the processing delay, while for CI stimulation, the auditory nerve fibers are stimulated directly. In case of MED-EL CI systems in combination with different HA types, the CI stimulation precedes the acoustic HA stimulation by 3 to 10 ms. A self-designed, battery-powered, portable, and programmable delay line was applied to the CI to reduce the device delay mismatch in nine bimodal listeners. We used an A-B-B-A test design and determined if sound source localization improves when the device delay mismatch is reduced by delaying the CI stimulation by the HA processing delay (τHA). Results revealed that every subject in our group of nine bimodal listeners benefited from the approach. The root-mean-square error of sound localization improved significantly from 52.6° to 37.9°. The signed bias also improved significantly from 25.2° to 10.5°, with positive values indicating a bias toward the CI. Furthermore, two other delay values (τHA –1 ms and τHA +1 ms) were applied, and with the latter value, the signed bias was further reduced in some test subjects. We conclude that sound source localization accuracy in bimodal listeners improves instantaneously and sustainably when the device delay mismatch is reduced.