Related Experiment Videos
Developmental Effects in Children's Ability to Benefit From F0 Differences Between Target and Masker Speech
Mary M Flaherty1, Emily Buss2, Lori J Leibold3
1Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA.
Ear and Hearing
|October 19, 2018
Summary
Children
Area of Science:
- Auditory perception
- Speech processing
- Child development
Background:
- Speech-in-speech recognition is challenging for children.
- Fundamental frequency (F0) differences aid speech perception.
- Developmental changes in auditory processing are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine how school-age children benefit from fundamental frequency (F0) differences in speech-in-speech recognition.
- To assess age-related changes in this benefit.
- To investigate the relationship between frequency discrimination and F0 benefit.
Main Methods:
- Speech reception thresholds (SRTs) were measured in children (5-15 years) and adults (20-36 years).
- Target words were presented with masker speech at varying F0 separations (0, 3, 6, 9 semitones).
- Frequency discrimination thresholds were assessed in a subset of listeners.
Main Results:
- Younger children (5-12 years) had poorer SRTs than older children and adults.
- The benefit of F0 separation increased with age and separation magnitude.
- Children under 7 years showed no benefit from F0 separation; frequency discrimination did not predict SRTs.
Conclusions:
- Children's ability to benefit from F0 differences in speech-in-speech recognition develops over time.
- Younger children are less adept at utilizing F0 cues for improved speech perception.
- Individual differences in frequency discrimination did not explain the benefit from F0 differences.