Comparison of live and video presentation of a speechreading test with children

This paper compares the speechreading scores given by a group of normally hearing children aged 9 years using live and video presentation of the Manchester Speechreading (Lipreading) Test. Twenty children (10 boys and 10 girls) took part in the investigation. The same speaker was involved in the two modes of presentation which were given at a distance of 6 feet in the same room and against the same background. To simulate normal classroom and clinic situations the live mode was presented by uttering test stimuli without giving acoustic clues. Although there was a preference for the live mode, there was no significant difference between the scores obtained. The scores of the boys and girls are compared and discussed. A test re-rest involving 5 boys and 5 girls from the original sample substantially corroborated the original finding with high correlations for word and sentence tests. Consistency of presentation and reliability of the test were also supported by high correlations. These findings are discussed in the light of possible standardisation of test material.