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Distribution of short-term rms levels in conversational speech
R M Cox1, J S Matesich, J N Moore
1Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, Memphis State University, Tennessee 38105.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|September 1, 1988
Summary
Speech level variability was analyzed across different measurement durations and frequency bands. Results show consistent patterns between male and female talkers, with implications for acoustic analysis and hearing aid strategies.
Area of Science:
- Acoustics
- Speech Science
- Signal Processing
Background:
- Understanding speech signal variability is crucial for accurate acoustic analysis.
- Previous research has not fully characterized short-term speech level distributions across various measurement intervals and frequency bands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the distributions of short-term root-mean-square (rms) speech levels relative to long-term levels.
- To investigate the influence of measurement interval duration on these distributions across different frequency bands.
- To compare findings between male and female talkers.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed speech data from 60 talkers (30 male, 30 female).
- Measured short-term rms speech levels in eight 1/3-octave bands using intervals from 20 to 120 ms.
- Utilized Hanning-windowed, 20-ms time records.
Main Results:
- Mean distributions of short-term rms speech levels were similar for male and female talkers.
- Intertalker differences were minimal, particularly for speech levels above the median.
- The effect of measurement interval varied with speech level and frequency band, being less pronounced for higher amplitudes and varying across bands for lower amplitudes.
Conclusions:
- Short-term speech level distributions show consistent patterns across genders, simplifying cross-study comparisons.
- Measurement interval duration significantly impacts speech level analysis, especially at lower amplitudes and across different frequency regions.
- Findings have direct implications for refining acoustic measurement protocols and developing advanced amplification strategies for hearing devices.