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A source impedance compensated artificial voice for mask speech intelligibility testing: Thevenin model
T A Gerritsen1, D O Racansky, H Kunov
1Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|November 1, 1996
Summary
This study developed a Thevenin model of the human voice to test speech intelligibility with masks. This model helps analyze how mask impedance affects speech clarity, crucial for audiology research.
Area of Science:
- Acoustics
- Speech Science
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Speech intelligibility testing is crucial for audiology and communication research.
- Existing methods for testing speech intelligibility with masks have limitations.
- Understanding voice impedance is key to modeling speech production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a Thevenin model of the human voice for mask speech intelligibility testing.
- To investigate the impact of mask impedance on speech acoustics.
- To provide a foundation for advanced voice simulation in audiology.
Main Methods:
- Measured long-term average speech spectra from ten male speakers.
- Estimated average vocal tract shape using linear prediction.
- Determined a Thevenin model based on vocal tract shape and electroacoustic analogs.
Main Results:
- Predicted mask speech spectra using the Thevenin model and a mouth simulator.
- Compared predicted spectra to analyze the effect of voice and mask impedance interactions.
- Established a method for objective speech intelligibility measurements.
Conclusions:
- The Thevenin model provides a novel approach to simulating voice-mask interactions.
- This model aids in understanding objective speech intelligibility measurements.
- The developed model is foundational for future voice simulator research.