Normal adult performance on a temporally modified staggered spondaic word task

Competing syllables in the Staggered Spondaic Work (SSW) test exhibit considerable variation in alignment. These alignment variations have shown discrepant effects on selected subject populations. Since Berlin et al. (1973) found that dichotic presentation of temporally off-set CV syllables may result in improved intelligibility of the trailing syllable, the same lag effect would be expected to influence performance on a staggered spondaic word identification task. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of temporal alignment of competing syllables in a staggered spondaic word identification task. Forty-eight adults having no prior experience with or knowledge of the SSW test and no history of speech, language, hearing or reading disorders participated in the study. Each subject was administered two recorded versions of the SSW test. One recording contained items as presented on the commercially available test. The second recording contained SSW test items in which competing monosyllables were temporally aligned. Results revealed no significant difference in performance between the two alignment conditions. In addition, no significant ear effect was demonstrated. Variables which may influence subject performance are described.