Automatic Speech Recognition Predicts Speech Intelligibility and Comprehension for Listeners with Simulated Age-Related Hearing Loss
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| Title: | Automatic Speech Recognition Predicts Speech Intelligibility and Comprehension for Listeners with Simulated Age-Related Hearing Loss |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Fontan, Lionel, Ferrané, Isabelle, Farinas, Jérôme, Pinquier, Julien, Tardieu, Julien, Magnen, Cynthia, Gaillard, Pascal, Aumont, Xavier, Füllgrabe, Christian |
| Source: | Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. Sep 2017 60(9):2394-2405. |
| Availability: | American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: slhr@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.pubs.asha.org |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 12 |
| Publication Date: | 2017 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Assistive Technology, Hearing Impairments, Simulation, Auditory Perception, Scores, Audiology, Correlation, Models, Listening Comprehension Tests, Prediction, Speech Communication, Language Processing, Older Adults |
| DOI: | 10.1044/2017_JSLHR-S-16-0269 |
| ISSN: | 1092-4388 |
| Abstract: | Purpose: The purpose of this article is to assess speech processing for listeners with simulated age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and to investigate whether the observed performance can be replicated using an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system. The long-term goal of this research is to develop a system that will assist audiologists/hearing-aid dispensers in the fine-tuning of hearing aids. Method: Sixty young participants with normal hearing listened to speech materials mimicking the perceptual consequences of ARHL at different levels of severity. Two intelligibility tests (repetition of words and sentences) and 1 comprehension test (responding to oral commands by moving virtual objects) were administered. Several language models were developed and used by the ASR system in order to fit human performances. Results: Strong significant positive correlations were observed between human and ASR scores, with coefficients up to 0.99. However, the spectral smearing used to simulate losses in frequency selectivity caused larger declines in ASR performance than in human performance. Conclusion: Both intelligibility and comprehension scores for listeners with simulated ARHL are highly correlated with the performances of an ASR-based system. In the future, it needs to be determined if the ASR system is similarly successful in predicting speech processing in noise and by older people with ARHL. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Number of References: | 49 |
| Entry Date: | 2017 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1155846 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Purpose: The purpose of this article is to assess speech processing for listeners with simulated age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and to investigate whether the observed performance can be replicated using an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system. The long-term goal of this research is to develop a system that will assist audiologists/hearing-aid dispensers in the fine-tuning of hearing aids. Method: Sixty young participants with normal hearing listened to speech materials mimicking the perceptual consequences of ARHL at different levels of severity. Two intelligibility tests (repetition of words and sentences) and 1 comprehension test (responding to oral commands by moving virtual objects) were administered. Several language models were developed and used by the ASR system in order to fit human performances. Results: Strong significant positive correlations were observed between human and ASR scores, with coefficients up to 0.99. However, the spectral smearing used to simulate losses in frequency selectivity caused larger declines in ASR performance than in human performance. Conclusion: Both intelligibility and comprehension scores for listeners with simulated ARHL are highly correlated with the performances of an ASR-based system. In the future, it needs to be determined if the ASR system is similarly successful in predicting speech processing in noise and by older people with ARHL. |
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| ISSN: | 1092-4388 |
| DOI: | 10.1044/2017_JSLHR-S-16-0269 |
