Weighting of Amplitude and Formant Rise Time Cues by School-Aged Children: A Mismatch Negativity Study

Purpose

An important skill in the development of speech perception is to apply optimal weights to acoustic cues so that phonemic information is recovered from speech with minimum effort. Here, we investigated the development of acoustic cue weighting of amplitude rise time (ART) and formant rise time (FRT) cues in children as measured by mismatch negativity (MMN).

Method

Twelve adults and 36 children aged 6–12 years listened to a /ba/–/wa/ contrast in an oddball paradigm in which the standard stimulus had the ART and FRT cues of /ba/. In different blocks, the deviant stimulus had either the ART or FRT cues of /wa/.

Results

The results revealed that children younger than 10 years were sensitive to both ART and FRT cues whereas 10- to 12-year-old children and adults were sensitive only to FRT cues. Moreover, children younger than 10 years generated a positive mismatch response, whereas older children and adults generated MMN.

Conclusion

These results suggest that preattentive adultlike weighting of ART and FRT cues is attained only by 10 years of age and accompanies the change from mismatch response to the more mature MMN response.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.6207608

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2I6GI7b
via IFTTT

The Receptive–Expressive Gap in English Narratives of Spanish–English Bilingual Children With and Without Language Impairment

Purpose

First, we sought to extend our knowledge of second language (L2) receptive compared to expressive narrative skills in bilingual children with and without primary language impairment (PLI). Second, we sought to explore whether narrative receptive and expressive performance in bilingual children's L2 differed based on the type of contextual support.

Method

In a longitudinal group study, 20 Spanish–English bilingual children with PLI were matched by sex, age, nonverbal IQ score, and language exposure to 20 bilingual peers with typical development and administered the Test of Narrative Language (Gillam & Pearson, 2004) in English (their L2) at kindergarten and first grade.

Results

Standard scores were significantly lower for bilingual children with PLI than those without PLI. An L2 receptive–expressive gap existed for bilingual children with PLI at kindergarten but dissipated by first grade. Using single pictures during narrative generation compared to multiple pictures during narrative generation or no pictures during narrative retell appeared to minimize the presence of a receptive–expressive gap.

Conclusions

In early stages of L2 learning, bilingual children with PLI have an L2 receptive–expressive gap, but their typical development peers do not. Using a single picture during narrative generation might be advantageous for this population because it minimizes a receptive–expressive gap.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2rrYUSd
via IFTTT

Erratum

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2I6GDjT
via IFTTT

Kinematic Features of Jaw and Lips Distinguish Symptomatic From Presymptomatic Stages of Bulbar Decline in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Purpose

The goals of this study were to (a) classify speech movements of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in presymptomatic and symptomatic phases of bulbar function decline relying solely on kinematic features of lips and jaw and (b) identify the most important measures that detect the transition between early and late bulbar changes.

Method

One hundred ninety-two recordings obtained from 64 patients with ALS were considered for the analysis. Feature selection and classification algorithms were used to analyze lip and jaw movements recorded with Optotrak Certus (Northern Digital Inc.) during a sentence task. A feature set, which included 35 measures of movement range, velocity, acceleration, jerk, and area measures of lips and jaw, was used to classify sessions according to the speaking rate into presymptomatic (> 160 words per minute) and symptomatic (< 160 words per minute) groups.

Results

Presymptomatic and symptomatic phases of bulbar decline were distinguished with high accuracy (87%), relying only on lip and jaw movements. The best features that allowed detecting the differences between early and later bulbar stages included cumulative path of lower lip and jaw, peak values of velocity, acceleration, and jerk of lower lip and jaw.

Conclusion

The results established a relationship between facial kinematics and bulbar function decline in ALS. Considering that facial movements can be recorded by means of novel inexpensive and easy-to-use, video-based methods, this work supports the development of an automatic system for facial movement analysis to help clinicians in tracking the disease progression in ALS.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2rt9o3N
via IFTTT

Weighting of Amplitude and Formant Rise Time Cues by School-Aged Children: A Mismatch Negativity Study

Purpose

An important skill in the development of speech perception is to apply optimal weights to acoustic cues so that phonemic information is recovered from speech with minimum effort. Here, we investigated the development of acoustic cue weighting of amplitude rise time (ART) and formant rise time (FRT) cues in children as measured by mismatch negativity (MMN).

Method

Twelve adults and 36 children aged 6–12 years listened to a /ba/–/wa/ contrast in an oddball paradigm in which the standard stimulus had the ART and FRT cues of /ba/. In different blocks, the deviant stimulus had either the ART or FRT cues of /wa/.

Results

The results revealed that children younger than 10 years were sensitive to both ART and FRT cues whereas 10- to 12-year-old children and adults were sensitive only to FRT cues. Moreover, children younger than 10 years generated a positive mismatch response, whereas older children and adults generated MMN.

Conclusion

These results suggest that preattentive adultlike weighting of ART and FRT cues is attained only by 10 years of age and accompanies the change from mismatch response to the more mature MMN response.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.6207608

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2I6GI7b
via IFTTT

The Receptive–Expressive Gap in English Narratives of Spanish–English Bilingual Children With and Without Language Impairment

Purpose

First, we sought to extend our knowledge of second language (L2) receptive compared to expressive narrative skills in bilingual children with and without primary language impairment (PLI). Second, we sought to explore whether narrative receptive and expressive performance in bilingual children's L2 differed based on the type of contextual support.

Method

In a longitudinal group study, 20 Spanish–English bilingual children with PLI were matched by sex, age, nonverbal IQ score, and language exposure to 20 bilingual peers with typical development and administered the Test of Narrative Language (Gillam & Pearson, 2004) in English (their L2) at kindergarten and first grade.

Results

Standard scores were significantly lower for bilingual children with PLI than those without PLI. An L2 receptive–expressive gap existed for bilingual children with PLI at kindergarten but dissipated by first grade. Using single pictures during narrative generation compared to multiple pictures during narrative generation or no pictures during narrative retell appeared to minimize the presence of a receptive–expressive gap.

Conclusions

In early stages of L2 learning, bilingual children with PLI have an L2 receptive–expressive gap, but their typical development peers do not. Using a single picture during narrative generation might be advantageous for this population because it minimizes a receptive–expressive gap.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2rrYUSd
via IFTTT

Erratum

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2I6GDjT
via IFTTT

Kinematic Features of Jaw and Lips Distinguish Symptomatic From Presymptomatic Stages of Bulbar Decline in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Purpose

The goals of this study were to (a) classify speech movements of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in presymptomatic and symptomatic phases of bulbar function decline relying solely on kinematic features of lips and jaw and (b) identify the most important measures that detect the transition between early and late bulbar changes.

Method

One hundred ninety-two recordings obtained from 64 patients with ALS were considered for the analysis. Feature selection and classification algorithms were used to analyze lip and jaw movements recorded with Optotrak Certus (Northern Digital Inc.) during a sentence task. A feature set, which included 35 measures of movement range, velocity, acceleration, jerk, and area measures of lips and jaw, was used to classify sessions according to the speaking rate into presymptomatic (> 160 words per minute) and symptomatic (< 160 words per minute) groups.

Results

Presymptomatic and symptomatic phases of bulbar decline were distinguished with high accuracy (87%), relying only on lip and jaw movements. The best features that allowed detecting the differences between early and later bulbar stages included cumulative path of lower lip and jaw, peak values of velocity, acceleration, and jerk of lower lip and jaw.

Conclusion

The results established a relationship between facial kinematics and bulbar function decline in ALS. Considering that facial movements can be recorded by means of novel inexpensive and easy-to-use, video-based methods, this work supports the development of an automatic system for facial movement analysis to help clinicians in tracking the disease progression in ALS.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2rt9o3N
via IFTTT

Weighting of Amplitude and Formant Rise Time Cues by School-Aged Children: A Mismatch Negativity Study

Purpose

An important skill in the development of speech perception is to apply optimal weights to acoustic cues so that phonemic information is recovered from speech with minimum effort. Here, we investigated the development of acoustic cue weighting of amplitude rise time (ART) and formant rise time (FRT) cues in children as measured by mismatch negativity (MMN).

Method

Twelve adults and 36 children aged 6–12 years listened to a /ba/–/wa/ contrast in an oddball paradigm in which the standard stimulus had the ART and FRT cues of /ba/. In different blocks, the deviant stimulus had either the ART or FRT cues of /wa/.

Results

The results revealed that children younger than 10 years were sensitive to both ART and FRT cues whereas 10- to 12-year-old children and adults were sensitive only to FRT cues. Moreover, children younger than 10 years generated a positive mismatch response, whereas older children and adults generated MMN.

Conclusion

These results suggest that preattentive adultlike weighting of ART and FRT cues is attained only by 10 years of age and accompanies the change from mismatch response to the more mature MMN response.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.6207608

from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2I6GI7b
via IFTTT

The Receptive–Expressive Gap in English Narratives of Spanish–English Bilingual Children With and Without Language Impairment

Purpose

First, we sought to extend our knowledge of second language (L2) receptive compared to expressive narrative skills in bilingual children with and without primary language impairment (PLI). Second, we sought to explore whether narrative receptive and expressive performance in bilingual children's L2 differed based on the type of contextual support.

Method

In a longitudinal group study, 20 Spanish–English bilingual children with PLI were matched by sex, age, nonverbal IQ score, and language exposure to 20 bilingual peers with typical development and administered the Test of Narrative Language (Gillam & Pearson, 2004) in English (their L2) at kindergarten and first grade.

Results

Standard scores were significantly lower for bilingual children with PLI than those without PLI. An L2 receptive–expressive gap existed for bilingual children with PLI at kindergarten but dissipated by first grade. Using single pictures during narrative generation compared to multiple pictures during narrative generation or no pictures during narrative retell appeared to minimize the presence of a receptive–expressive gap.

Conclusions

In early stages of L2 learning, bilingual children with PLI have an L2 receptive–expressive gap, but their typical development peers do not. Using a single picture during narrative generation might be advantageous for this population because it minimizes a receptive–expressive gap.

from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2rrYUSd
via IFTTT

Erratum

from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2I6GDjT
via IFTTT

Kinematic Features of Jaw and Lips Distinguish Symptomatic From Presymptomatic Stages of Bulbar Decline in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Purpose

The goals of this study were to (a) classify speech movements of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in presymptomatic and symptomatic phases of bulbar function decline relying solely on kinematic features of lips and jaw and (b) identify the most important measures that detect the transition between early and late bulbar changes.

Method

One hundred ninety-two recordings obtained from 64 patients with ALS were considered for the analysis. Feature selection and classification algorithms were used to analyze lip and jaw movements recorded with Optotrak Certus (Northern Digital Inc.) during a sentence task. A feature set, which included 35 measures of movement range, velocity, acceleration, jerk, and area measures of lips and jaw, was used to classify sessions according to the speaking rate into presymptomatic (> 160 words per minute) and symptomatic (< 160 words per minute) groups.

Results

Presymptomatic and symptomatic phases of bulbar decline were distinguished with high accuracy (87%), relying only on lip and jaw movements. The best features that allowed detecting the differences between early and later bulbar stages included cumulative path of lower lip and jaw, peak values of velocity, acceleration, and jerk of lower lip and jaw.

Conclusion

The results established a relationship between facial kinematics and bulbar function decline in ALS. Considering that facial movements can be recorded by means of novel inexpensive and easy-to-use, video-based methods, this work supports the development of an automatic system for facial movement analysis to help clinicians in tracking the disease progression in ALS.

from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2rt9o3N
via IFTTT

Click-Evoked Auditory Efferent Activity: Rate and Level Effects

Abstract

There currently are no standardized protocols to evaluate auditory efferent function in humans. Typical tests use broadband noise to activate the efferents, but only test the contralateral efferent pathway, risk activating the middle ear muscle reflex (MEMR), and are laborious for clinical use. In an attempt to develop a clinical test of bilateral auditory efferent function, we have designed a method that uses clicks to evoke efferent activity, obtain click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs), and monitor MEMR. This allows for near-simultaneous estimation of cochlear and efferent function. In the present study, we manipulated click level (60, 70, and 80 dB peak-equivalent sound pressure level [peSPL]) and rate (40, 50, and 62.5 Hz) to identify an optimal rate-level combination that evokes measurable efferent modulation of CEOAEs. Our findings (n = 58) demonstrate that almost all click levels and rates used caused significant inhibition of CEOAEs, with a significant interaction between level and rate effects. Predictably, bilateral activation produced greater inhibition compared to stimulating the efferents only in the ipsilateral or contralateral ear. In examining the click rate-level effects during bilateral activation in greater detail, we observed a 1-dB inhibition of CEOAE level for each 10-dB increase in click level, with rate held constant at 62.5 Hz. Similarly, a 10-Hz increase in rate produced a 0.74-dB reduction in CEOAE level, with click level held constant at 80 dB peSPL. The effect size (Cohen’s d) was small for either monaural condition and medium for bilateral, faster-rate, and higher-level conditions. We were also able to reliably extract CEOAEs from efferent eliciting clicks. We conclude that clicks can indeed be profitably employed to simultaneously evaluate cochlear health using CEOAEs as well as their efferent modulation. Furthermore, using bilateral clicks allows the evaluation of both the crossed and uncrossed elements of the auditory efferent nervous system, while yielding larger, more discernible, inhibition of the CEOAEs relative to either ipsilateral or contralateral condition.

from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2rpPEgA
via IFTTT

Youths with Hearing Loss More Likely to be Bullied

​Peer victimization occurs with significantly higher prevalence among adolescents with hearing loss compared with the general population, a new study found. (Exceptional Children 2018;84[3]:280.) Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas conducted an online survey of 87 children and adolescents ages 7 to 18 who wear cochlear implants or hearing aids for hearing loss. Approximately 50 percent of the participants said they were picked on in at least one way in the past year, compared with 28 percent of adolescents in the general population. Adolescents with hearing loss identified teasing, exclusion, having rumors spread about them, and coercion as ways they felt picked on, whereas their hearing counterparts report teasing, having rumors spread about them, and physical harm. As for the cause of bullying, about 45 percent of the survey respondents said they did not know why, 20 percent cited their hearing loss or cochlear implant as a reason, and 20 percent said it was because of the way they looked or acted.

One of the study authors, Andrea Warner-Czyz, PhD, an assistant professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and a researcher at the Callier Center for Communications Disorders at UT Dallas, said the problems with peers might reflect communication difficulties that youths with hearing loss experience related to auditory skills. "Sometimes they miss puns or a play on words, or other cues that have to do with humor. Or when something is said very quietly or in a noisy location, the student with hearing loss might miss it. And that can make them feel like an outcast, or it can make them look like an outcast," she said. Studies have shown that having at least one good friend is a protective factor against bullying. While most children in this study cited several or lots of friends, anecdotal reports from parents and clinicians made the researchers question the veracity of these friendships. "Friendships are important to most young people, but I believe they are especially important for children with hearing loss," said Warner-Czyz. "Anything parents can do to facilitate social interaction and friendship and letting them learn how to be a friend and who is a friend is critical." 

Published: 5/7/2018 9:11:00 AM

from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2JYjXm7
via IFTTT

Youths with Hearing Loss More Likely to be Bullied

​Peer victimization occurs with significantly higher prevalence among adolescents with hearing loss compared with the general population, a new study found. (Exceptional Children 2018;84[3]:280.) Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas conducted an online survey of 87 children and adolescents ages 7 to 18 who wear cochlear implants or hearing aids for hearing loss. Approximately 50 percent of the participants said they were picked on in at least one way in the past year, compared with 28 percent of adolescents in the general population. Adolescents with hearing loss identified teasing, exclusion, having rumors spread about them, and coercion as ways they felt picked on, whereas their hearing counterparts report teasing, having rumors spread about them, and physical harm. As for the cause of bullying, about 45 percent of the survey respondents said they did not know why, 20 percent cited their hearing loss or cochlear implant as a reason, and 20 percent said it was because of the way they looked or acted.

One of the study authors, Andrea Warner-Czyz, PhD, an assistant professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and a researcher at the Callier Center for Communications Disorders at UT Dallas, said the problems with peers might reflect communication difficulties that youths with hearing loss experience related to auditory skills. "Sometimes they miss puns or a play on words, or other cues that have to do with humor. Or when something is said very quietly or in a noisy location, the student with hearing loss might miss it. And that can make them feel like an outcast, or it can make them look like an outcast," she said. Studies have shown that having at least one good friend is a protective factor against bullying. While most children in this study cited several or lots of friends, anecdotal reports from parents and clinicians made the researchers question the veracity of these friendships. "Friendships are important to most young people, but I believe they are especially important for children with hearing loss," said Warner-Czyz. "Anything parents can do to facilitate social interaction and friendship and letting them learn how to be a friend and who is a friend is critical." 

Published: 5/7/2018 9:11:00 AM

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2JYjXm7
via IFTTT

Youths with Hearing Loss More Likely to be Bullied

​Peer victimization occurs with significantly higher prevalence among adolescents with hearing loss compared with the general population, a new study found. (Exceptional Children 2018;84[3]:280.) Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas conducted an online survey of 87 children and adolescents ages 7 to 18 who wear cochlear implants or hearing aids for hearing loss. Approximately 50 percent of the participants said they were picked on in at least one way in the past year, compared with 28 percent of adolescents in the general population. Adolescents with hearing loss identified teasing, exclusion, having rumors spread about them, and coercion as ways they felt picked on, whereas their hearing counterparts report teasing, having rumors spread about them, and physical harm. As for the cause of bullying, about 45 percent of the survey respondents said they did not know why, 20 percent cited their hearing loss or cochlear implant as a reason, and 20 percent said it was because of the way they looked or acted.

One of the study authors, Andrea Warner-Czyz, PhD, an assistant professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and a researcher at the Callier Center for Communications Disorders at UT Dallas, said the problems with peers might reflect communication difficulties that youths with hearing loss experience related to auditory skills. "Sometimes they miss puns or a play on words, or other cues that have to do with humor. Or when something is said very quietly or in a noisy location, the student with hearing loss might miss it. And that can make them feel like an outcast, or it can make them look like an outcast," she said. Studies have shown that having at least one good friend is a protective factor against bullying. While most children in this study cited several or lots of friends, anecdotal reports from parents and clinicians made the researchers question the veracity of these friendships. "Friendships are important to most young people, but I believe they are especially important for children with hearing loss," said Warner-Czyz. "Anything parents can do to facilitate social interaction and friendship and letting them learn how to be a friend and who is a friend is critical." 

Published: 5/7/2018 9:11:00 AM

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2JYjXm7
via IFTTT