US 6,584,440 B2Granted

Method and system for rapid and reliable testing of speech intelligibility in children

AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

InventorRuth Y. Litovsky

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Abstract

A method and system for testing the speech intelligibility of a child comprises providing a set of target sounds as words in the presence and absence of competing sound(s) of a variety of types so as to enable an analysis of the aspects of competing sounds and their respective effects on the speech intelligibility of a child. Locations at which competing sound(s) is provided is varied to enable an evaluation of its effect on the spatial release from masking. The target words used in the test are first determined to be within the vocabulary of the child. The child is required to respond to the target word by selecting a picture representation of the target word from among several picture choices, thus providing an interactive aspect to the test. There may optionally be provided a positive or a negative reinforcement. The sound level at which the target words are presented may vary adaptively according to the child's responses, the change in sound level being determined by a set of rules. The test is repeated over several target words and under a variety of types and locations of competing sounds and the child's responses recorded in a results database. The results are available for further analysis by a user to produce customized output. A computerized system is disclosed that enables the provisioning of the test in a controlled manner, analysis of the data and further engagement the child.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method for testing speech intelligibility of a child, comprising:

providing a set of target words for presenting to the child from an auditory target located in front of and at a distance from the child;
providing a set of picture representations of each of said target words for visually presenting to the child;
providing a set of competing sounds of an at least one type selected from the group consisting of speech, speech-shaped noise, time-reversed speech and temporally modulated speech-shaped noise;
selecting an at least one type of competing sound from the set provided to use in testing;
specifying a sound level at which a target word is presented so as to ensure hearing by the child in the absence of any of the competing sounds;
presenting one of the target words to the child at the sound level;
presenting a subset of the picture representations to the child of which one matches the presented target word, the child then responding to the presentation by choosing which of the subset of pictures matches the target word, and recording the child's response;
repeating the presenting the target word step while furthermore simultaneously presenting one of the at least one selected type(s) of the competing sounds at a location proximate the target and repeating the presenting the picture representations step, over all of the at least one type of competing sounds selected;
and,
repeating the presenting the target word step while furthermore simultaneously presenting one of the at least one selected type(s) of competing sounds at a location at a distance away from both the target and the child and repeating the presenting the picture representations step, over all of the at least one type of competing sounds selected;
whereby the child's responses are recorded to use in measuring an interference and masking effect of the competing sound by its type and location on an ability of the child to hear the target and to spatially segregate sounds using binaural hearing, that is, the degree to which masking and spatial release from masking can occur given characteristics of the type of competing sound and its location relative to the child and to the target, the measurements informing treatment options to improve the child's speech intelligibility in realistic complex environments.

8 more elements

An apparatus for testing speech intelligibility of a child, comprising:

means for providing a set of target words for presenting to the child from an auditory target located in front of and at a distance from the child;
means for providing a set of picture representations of each of said target words for visually presenting to the child;
means for providing a set of competing sounds of an at least one type selected from the group consisting of speech, speech-shaped noise, time-reversed speech and temporally modulated speech-shaped noise;
means for selecting an at least one type of competing sound from the, set provided to use in testing;
means for specifying a sound level at which a target word is presented so as to ensure hearing by the child in the absence of any of the competing sounds;
means for presenting one of the target words to the child at the sound level;
means for presenting a subset of the picture representations to the child of which one matches the presented target word, the child then responding to the presentation by choosing which of the subset of pictures matches the target word, and recording the child's response;
means for changing the sound level at which the target word is presented according to the child's response and repeating the presenting the target word step, changing the sound level comprising determining a direction and an amount of an initial step size by which to change the sound level so as to adapt the change in current sound level to the child's response, the determination being governed by a set of rules;
means for repeating the presenting the target word step while furthermore simultaneously presenting one of the at least one selected type(s) of the competing sounds at a location proximate the target and repeating the presenting the picture representations step, over all of the at least one type of competing sounds selected;
and,
means for repeating the presenting the target word step while furthermore simultaneously presenting one of the at least one selected type(s) of competing sounds at a location at a distance away from both the target and the child and repeating the presenting the picture representations step, over all of the at least one type of competing sounds selected;
whereby the child's responses are recorded to use in measuring an interference and masking effect of the competing sound by its type and location on an ability of the child to hear the target and to spatially segregate sounds using binaural hearing, that is, the degree to which masking and spatial release from masking occur given characteristics of the type of competing sound and its location relative to the child and to the target, the measurements informing treatment options to improve the child's speech intelligibility in realistic complex environments.

9 more elements

A program storage device readable by a machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for testing speech intelligibility of a child, the method steps comprising:

providing a set of target words for presenting to the child from an auditory target located in front of and at a distance from the child;
providing a set of picture representations of each of said target words for visually presenting to the child;
providing a set of competing sounds of an at least one type selected from the group consisting of speech, speech-shaped noise, time-reversed speech and temporally modulated speech-shaped noise;
selecting an at least one type of competing sound from the set provided to use in testing;
specifying a sound level at which a target word is presented so as to ensure hearing by the child in the absence of any of the competing sounds;
presenting one of the target words to the child at the sound level;
presenting a subset of the picture representations to the child of which one matches the presented target word, the child then responding to the presentation by choosing which of the subset of pictures matches the target word, and recording the child's response;
changing the sound level at which the target word is presented according to the child's response and repeating the presenting the target word step, changing the sound level comprising determining a direction and an amount of an initial step size by which to change the sound level so as to adapt the change in current sound level to the child's response, the determination being governed by a set of rules;
repeating the presenting the target word step while furthermore simultaneously presenting one of the at least one selected type(s) of the competing sounds at a location proximate the target and repeating the presenting the picture representations step, over all of the at least one type of competing sounds selected;
and,
repeating the presenting the target word step while furthermore simultaneously presenting one of the at least one selected type(s) of competing sounds at a location at a distance away from both the target and the child and repeating the presenting the picture representations step, over all of the at least one type of competing sounds selected;
whereby the child's responses are recorded to use in measuring an interference and masking effect of the competing sound by its type and location on an ability of the child to hear the target and to spatially segregate sounds using binaural hearing, that is, the degree to which masking and spatial release from masking occur given characteristics of the type of competing sound and its location relative to the child and to the target, the measurements informing treatment options to improve the child's speech intelligibility in realistic complex environments.

9 more elements

An article of manufacture comprising a computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium for testing speech intelligibility of a child, said computer-readable program code means comprising:

program code means for providing a set of target words for presenting to the child from an auditory target located in front of and at a distance from the child;
program code means for providing a set of picture representations of each of said target words for visually presenting to the child;
program code means for providing a set of competing sounds of an at least one type selected from the group consisting of speech, speech-shaped noise, time-reversed speech and temporally modulated speech-shaped noise;
program code means for selecting an at least one type of competing sound from the set provided to use in testing;
program code means for specifying a sound level at which a target word is presented so as to ensure hearing by the child in the absence of any of the competing sounds;
program code means for presenting one of the target words to the child at the sound level;
program code means for presenting a subset of the picture representations to the child of which one matches the presented target word, the child then responding to the presentation by choosing which of the subset of pictures matches the target word, and recording the child's response;
program code means for changing the sound level at which the target word is presented according to the child's response and repeating the presenting the target word step, changing the sound level comprising determining a direction and an amount of an initial step size by which to change the sound level so as to adapt the change in current sound level to the child's response, the determination being governed by a set of rules;
program code means for repeating the presenting the target word step while furthermore simultaneously presenting one of the at least one selected type(s) of the competing sounds at a location proximate the target and repeating the presenting the picture representations step, over all of the at least one type of competing sounds selected;
and,
program code means for repeating the presenting the target word step while furthermore simultaneously presenting one of the at least one selected type(s) of competing sounds at a location at a distance away from both the target and the child and repeating the presenting the picture representations step, over all of the at least one type of competing sounds selected;
whereby the child's responses are recorded to use in measuring an interference and masking effect of the competing sound by its type and location on an ability of the child to hear the target and to spatially segregate sounds using binaural hearing, that is, the degree to which masking and spatial release from masking occur given characteristics of the type of competing sound and its location relative to the child and to the target, the measurements informing treatment options to improve the child's speech intelligibility in realistic complex environments.

9 more elements

A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium and computer readable code embodied on said computer useable medium for causing the testing of speech intelligibility of a child, comprising:
computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer to effect the providing of a set of target words for presenting to the child from an auditory target located in front of and at a distance from the child;
computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer to effect the providing of a set of picture representations of each of said target words for visually presenting to the child;
computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer to effect the providing of a set of competing sounds of an at least one type selected from the group consisting of speech, speech-shaped noise, time-reversed speech and temporally modulated speech-shaped noise;
computer readable program code devices configured to cause the selecting of an at least one type of competing sound from the set provided to use in testing;
computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer to effect the specifying of a sound level at which a target word is presented so as to ensure hearing by the child in the absence of any of the competing sounds;
computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer to effect the presenting of one of the target words to the child at the sound level;
computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer to effect the presenting of a subset of the picture representations to the child of which one matches the presented target word, the child then responding to the presentation by choosing which of the subset of pictures matches the target word, and recording the child's response;
computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer to effect the changing of the sound level at which the target word is presented according to the child's response and repeating the presenting the target word step, changing the sound level comprising determining a direction and an amount of an initial step size by which to change the sound level so as to adapt the change in current sound level to the child's response, the determination being governed by a set of rules;
computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer to effect the repeating of the presenting the target word step while furthermore simultaneously presenting one of the at least one selected type(s) of the competing sounds at a location proximate the target and repeating the presenting the picture representations step, over all of the at least one type of competing sounds selected;
and,
computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer to effect the repeating of the presenting the target word step while furthermore simultaneously presenting one of the at least one selected type(s) of competing sounds at a location at a distance away from both the target and the child and repeating the presenting the picture representations step, over all of the at least one type of competing sounds selected;
whereby the child's responses are recorded to use in measuring an interference and masking effect of the competing sound by its type and location on an ability of the child to hear the target and to spatially segregate sounds using binaural hearing, that is, the degree to which masking and spatial release from masking occur given characteristics of the type of competing sound and its location relative to the child and to the target, the measurements informing treatment options to improve the child's speech intelligibility in realistic complex environments.

10 more elements

A method for testing speech intelligibility of a child, comprising:

providing a set of target words for presenting to the child from an auditory target located in front of and at a distance from the child;
providing a set of picture representations of each of said target words for visually presenting to the child;
providing a set of competing sounds of an at least one type selected from the group consisting of speech, speech-shaped noise, time-reversed speech and temporally modulated speech-shaped noise;
selecting an at least one type of competing sound from the set provided to use in testing;
specifying a sound level at which a target word is presented so as to ensure hearing by the child in the absence of any of the competing sounds;
presenting one of the target words to the child at the sound level;
presenting a subset of the picture representations to the child of which one matches the presented target word, the child then responding to the presentation by choosing which of the subset of pictures matches the target word, and recording the child's response;
changing the sound level at which the target word is presented according to the child's response and repeating the presenting the target word step, changing the sound level comprising determining a direction and an amount of an initial step size by which to change the sound level so as to adapt the change in current sound level to the child's response, the determination being governed by a set of rules;
repeating the presenting the target word step while furthermore simultaneously presenting one of the at least one selected type(s) of the competing sounds at a location proximate the target and repeating the presenting the picture representations step, over all of the at least one type of competing sounds selected;
and,
repeating the presenting the target word step while furthermore simultaneously presenting one of the at least one selected type(s) of competing sounds at a location at a distance away from both the target and the child and repeating the presenting the picture representations step, over all of the at least one type of competing sounds selected;
whereby the child's responses are recorded to use in measuring an interference and masking effect of the competing sound by its type and location on an ability of the child to hear the target and to spatially segregate sounds using binaural hearing, that is, the degree to which masking and spatial release from masking occur given characteristics of the type of competing sound and its location relative to the child and to the target, the measurements informing treatment options to improve the child's speech intelligibility in realistic complex environments.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.