Normal-hearing teenagers' performance on time-compressed sentential stimuli

Teenagers with normal hearing, reading, and learning abilities yielded normative data on time-compressed speech, either the Revised CID sentences or 3rd-order sentential approximations. There were 6 Ss, either all boys or all girls, in each of 12 subgroups combining age (median ages: 13, 15, 17 yrs), gender (M or F), SPL of test (45 or 60 db SPL), type of material ( RCIDs or sentential approximations), and percent time compression (0, 40, or 60%). The expected poorer performance was found with sentential approximations, either increased time compression, and with decreased level. This study provides normative data for teenagers' performance on tests of time-compressed sentential material.     

The assessment of reading readiness using multidimensionally scored time-compressed speech

Normal-hearing children (39 M, 36 F) from a monolingual environment, aged 5 yrs 10 mo to 7 yrs 2 mo, of average or better intelligence, were selected as being at high, average, or low risk of reading readiness according to scores on the Lindamood Auditory Conceptualization (LAC) test. Ss were also given the Stephens Oral Language Screening Test (SOLST), emphasizing syntactical development. Ss were then tested for verbal respeating of taped 5-word sentences and 5-word 1st-order sentential approximations at 32 db SL re SRT. Stimuli were presented at 0, 40, or 60% time compression (TC). Responses were scored right/wrong and also by Porch's multidimensional system involving repeats and cues. For both systems significant effects were obtained between a number of TC conditions vs both the LAC and SOLST. The LAC appeared to emphasize phonetic units, the SOLST linguistic units in real sentences. The TC condition appeared to emphasize linguistic units at both word and sentence levels, less so with increasing TC. Results supported the usefulness of the TC stimuli in assessing reading readiness and it was suggested that the various stimuli assess different aspects of auditory processing.     

Children's perception of time-compressed speech on two measures of speech discrimination.

Time-compressed versions of the WIPI and PB-K 50 speech discrimination measures were presented at two sensation levels to 60 children divided into three age-groups of 20 each. Results showed that average intelligibility scores increased as a function of increasing age and sensation level and decreased with increasing amounts of time compression. The PB-K 50 measure was found to be more difficult than the WIPI for each age-group under each condition of time compression and sensation level. The several factors under study were found to interact. The results are discussed relative to open- versus closed-message set response tasks and the implications for audiological diagnoses of children with central auditory processing problems.     

Children's perception of temporally distorted sentential approximations of varying length.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the abilities of second-grade and fourth-grade children to auditorially process three orders of three- and five-word sentential approximations, which had normal interstimulus intervals (ISI) and ISIs of 200 and 400 ms. Results showed that percent correct scores decreased as a function of increasing sentence length and ISI, and decreasing order of sentential approximation and grade level. The results are discussed relative to theoretical notions of short-term memory and auditory perceptual processing as well as potential clinical applications.     

The effect of homogenous versus heterogeneous stimuli on the confrontation-naming performance of aphasics

The effect of semantic grouping on confrontation-naming performances of 16 fluent and 10 nonfluent aphasics was examined. Subjects were tested under two testing conditions: 1) homogeneous stimuli within one semantic category and 2) heterogeneous stimuli from several semantic categories. Both the response latencies and the number of correct responses were considered, as well as the types of naming errors produced. Performances of the aphasics were not uniformly facilitated in one naming condition over the other. Some of the individual patients, however, did appear to display performance discrepancies between the two conditions. Clinical and theoretical implications of these results are discussed.     

Dichotic performance in elderly Italians with Italian stop consonant-vowel stimuli

Dichotic listening tests were carried out at various interaural onset asynchronies (from 0 to 500 ms) on normal-hearing young and elderly subjects using a free recall method. The stimuli were Italian stop consonant and vowel syllables computer-edited to reduce prevoicing of the consonant and vowel syllables from the original 100-120 ms to 30 ms. Results suggest that right-ear advantage is uninfluenced by age, despite a significantly lower total dichotic performance and abnormal lag effect in the older group.     

A TEOAE screening protocol based on linear click stimuli: performance and scoring criteria.

In order to improve the quality of current TEOAE recording methodologies, we have conducted a comparison of TEOAE neonatal recordings acquired with linear protocols using click stimuli of 68 dB SPL and non-linear protocols using the ILO default stimulus values. From a theoretical standpoint it was expected that the linear recordings would generate responses characterized by higher S/N ratios due to the fact that the stimulus sequence contains four clicks of the same intensity and polarity. The project included recordings from 1,416 neonatal ears (age 48 h). The TEOAE data were compared in terms of correlation, response amplitude, noise, corrected response and S/N ratio in the 1.0-, 2.0-, 3.0-, 4.0- and 5.0-kHz bands, using a paired t-test criterion. We found that windowed (4-14 ms) responses evoked by a linear TEOAE protocol generated superior S/N estimates in the 2.0-, 3.0-, 4.0- and 5.0-kHz TEOAE bands, in addition to superior correlation estimates, and demonstrated lower levels of noise. Clear-cut scoring criteria were established for the S/N ratios at 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 kHz, by constructing one-sided distribution-free tolerance boundaries.     

A preliminary study on time-compressed speech recognition in noise among teenage students who use personal listening devices

Objective: To compare speech perception obtained with different time compression rates in teenagers that do or do not use personal listening devices (PLDs).

Design: Teenagers in a high school were recruited to complete questionnaires reporting their recreational noise exposure using PLDs. The dose of individual recreational noise exposure was calculated. The individuals with the most and least doses of recreational noise were selected and grouped into PLD users and non-PLD users. Normal rate and time-compressed (60% and 70%) speech recognition in quiet and noisy conditions was measured.

Study sample: PLD user and non-PLD user group each included 20 participants.

Results: ANOVA analysis showed that the effect of group, background, compression rate, and interactions between any two factors are significant. Post hoc analysis showed that the speech recognition scores with normal rate in quiet and noise and those obtained from time-compressed speech in the quiet condition were not significantly different between PLD users and non-PLD users. However, differences in the time-compressed speech recognition scores (60% and 70%) in noisy conditions between the two groups were statistically significant.

Conclusions: The fast-speed speech recognition in noise decreased significantly in PLD users compared with that in non-PLD users selected by extreme entertainment exposure.     

Effects of standardized optokinetic stimuli on standing stability

BACKGROUND: Human standing stability is ensured by means of a sensory-motor control system. Proprioceptivity is most important among sensory afferences. At this time, less is known about the effect of standardized visual stimuli on motor programs towards support of body stability. These investigations were performed with special consideration for different strains on bunions and heels of both feet. METHODS: 42 healthy individuals (averaged age 29.6 years) were investigated with relaxed standing on the static force platform of Portable Multiplate System P. M. S. with optokinetic stimuli in horizontal, vertical and torsional direction (speed 80 degrees/s). Conducted by computer-analysis, the stability index, varying foot-pressure on heels and bunions, Fourier spectral analysis, and weight distribution index were counted. The eye movements were controlled with help of the PENG device. RESULTS: The optokinetic stimulations led to partial statistically significant impairments of stability particularly with torsional stimuli, yet notably improved stability with left stripes pattern. The sensory conflict between visual and other sensory inputs led to a statistically significant shift of sway frequencies to the higher ranges. On stimulation, the distribution of pressure to the feet changed. The preponderance to rest on the left side was equalized. The heels were considerably strained more with visual stimuli in all directions. Individuals felt more agreeable, toward stripes vertically directed while torsionally directed stripes elicited particular strain. CONCLUSION: Sensory conflicts between visual and other sensory inputs for maintaining the upright body position were found to impair the stability. Nevertheless these conflicts were partially compensated by motor programs more straining to the heels.     

Effects of external stimuli on spontaneous otoacoustic emissions

The behavior of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) is affected by external stimuli. A series of experiments was conducted with 25 normal-hearing subjects to explore multiple and bilateral SOAEs, frequency and amplitude drift of SOAEs, suppression functions and existence regions for distortion products generated by the interaction of SOAEs and external tones.     

Effects of noise on NST and NU 6 stimuli

This study determined how normal-hearing listeners' performance on a nonsense syllable test (NST) was affected by three noise competitors, and how these responses differed from those on the standard NU 6 meaningful word test. Twenty young adult listeners heard the stimuli via earphones and provided verbal responses to the NST and NU 6 items in competition with: white noise, multitalker noise, and white noise which was amplitude modulated by the multitalker noise, each at a 0 dB signal-to-noise ratio. Responses were scored on a whole-word (all-or-none) basis. Statistical analyses revealed that listeners' performance was always poorer on the NST than on the NU 6 regardless of competitor type; and that scores were better in the multitalker noise followed by white noise and amplitude modulated white noise. These data and those from earlier studies indicate that the NST is sufficiently difficult in quiet that it may not warrant testing in noise.     

后位聚焦口腔共鸣障碍对听障儿童嗓音的影响

目的 探讨后位聚焦口腔共鸣障碍对听障儿童嗓音的影响.方法 选取15例3~6岁存在后位聚焦口腔共鸣障碍的听障儿童(共鸣障碍组),20例3~6岁无口腔共鸣障碍的听障儿童(对照组),使用嗓音疾病评估仪分别对两组对象发/(ae)/音时的嗓音进行声学分析,比较两组的基频(F0)、基频标准差(F0SD)、基频微扰(jitter)、振幅微扰(shimmer)和标准化噪声能量(NNE).结果 对照组F0、F0SD、jitter、shimmer、NNE值分别为323.52±45.73 Hz、5.35±3.38 Hz、0.27%±0.16% 、2.53%±0.84%、-16.03±3.16 dB;共鸣障碍组分别为328.44±89.41 Hz、8.59±7.42 Hz、0.74%±0.79%、4.48%±1.44%、-14.92±7.27 dB,其中jitter、shimmer值显著大于对照组(P<0.05);共鸣障碍组儿童主要表现为功能亢进型嗓音障碍, shimmer值异常率最大(86.67%,13/15),其次是F0(66.67%,10/15)、jitter(53.33%,8/15)和F0SD的异常率(53.33%,8/15),异常率最小的是NNE(20%,3/15).结论 后位聚焦口腔共鸣障碍听障儿童的嗓音异常率较高,主要以jitter、shimmer值升高为主,主要表现为功能亢进型嗓音障碍.     

Attention effects on distortion-product otoacoustic emissions with contralateral speech stimuli

This study investigated the effect of selective attention on the distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) level through the use of environmentally meaningful, contralateral auditory stimuli. Four different conditions were used for measurement: quiet, contralateral noise, contralateral speech (unattended), and contralateral speech (attended). A statistically significant suppression effect for both the noise and speech conditions was found. However, there was no support for an auditory selective attention effect on the distortion-product amplitude.     

儿童腺样体切除术后腭咽闭合功能及语音声学研究

目的 研究儿童腺样体切除术后腭咽闭合功能及语音声学的变化.方法 对15例因腺样体肥大而行腺样体切除术的患儿(患者组)分别于术前、术后1周、术后1个月进行主观语音测试、腭咽闭合功能检测(吹泡试验、语音对测试)及计算机语音声学分析,并与15例正常儿童(对照组)进行比较.结果 腺样体切除术后1周,15例患儿中7例(46.67%)出现语音改变、鼻音过重,4例(26.67%)进食鼻咽返流;术后1周吹泡平均时间较术前短(P＜0.01),术后1个月时恢复正常(P＞0.05);术后1周,语图显示辅音残缺,共振峰残缺弱化及鼻化元音改变,嗓音起始时间(voice onset time,VOT)缩短,元音/I/的第三共振峰(F3)频率较术前明显降低(P＜0.01),术后1个月时F3有所回升,VOT接近正常值,但与术前比较仍有差异(P＜0.05).结论 儿童腺样体切除术后1周时会出现鼻音加重的语音改变,大部分表现为一过性腭咽闭合功能不全,术后1个月时恢复正常.     

The influence of vegetative stimuli on the human nasal mucous membrane

Measuring probes were inserted into the inferior nasal meatus in humans to record the effects of certain defined vegetative stimuli on the cavernous state and the temperature of the mucous membrane. An unilateral carotis compression induces a bilateral reactivity of the mucous membrane in the sense of a sympathicus stimulus. An unilateral bulbus pressure causes a bilateral reaction of the mucous membrane opposite to that of carotis compression. Blocking of the stellate ganglion produces a tonus reduction of the nervus sympathicus as was also found in animal experiments by other authors. Trigeminus stimulation induces a swelling of the nasal mucous membrane, whereas a voluntary breathing stop causes decongestion. Facial blushing, the only undefined and involuntary stimulus, is followed by an unswelling and a decrease of mucous membrane temperature. The results of our investigations are in agreement with analogous animal experiments. This is not surprising as man has a vegetative nervous system which is essentially unchanged from the beginning of evolutionary development. Only blushing is an expression of a reaction behaviour characteristic of human beings only.     

Preliminary study on vestibular-evoked myogenic potential induced by bone-conducted stimuli.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between vestibular-evoked myogenic potential evoked by air-conducted stimuli (A-VEMP) and those evoked by bone-conducted stimuli (B-VEMP). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University Hospital. PATIENTS: To determine the optimum stimulus conditions for B-VEMP, 40 ears of 20 healthy volunteers were used. To compare results of A-VEMP and B-VEMP, 60 ears of 30 healthy volunteers and 70 ears of 35 patients with unilateral vestibular disorder without conductive hearing loss were used. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: A-VEMP and B-VEMP were measured. Both examinations involved evaluation of the interaural ratio (IAR) of the p13-n23 peak-to-peak amplitude. To compare the relationship between A-VEMP and B-VEMP in healthy subjects and patients with unilateral vestibular disorder. RESULTS: The optimum stimulus for B-VEMP seemed to be a tone-burst sound with 8-ms duration at 250 Hz. In all healthy subjects, both A-VEMP and B-VEMP could be recorded. The mean IAR of B-VEMP (0.5 +/- 21.0%) was not significantly different from that of A-VEMP (0.2 +/- 19.4%). In patients with unilateral vestibular disorder, B-VEMP could not be detected in 10 ears in which A-VEMP also could not be detected. The IAR of A-VEMP was strongly correlated with that of B-VEMP (correlation coefficient, 0.98). CONCLUSION: The results of B-VEMP were almost the same as those for A-VEMP, at least, for patients without conductive hearing loss.