SPATS: Speech perception assessment and training system

Abstract

A software system, SPATS (patent pending), that tests and trains important bottom-up and combined bottom-up/top-down speech-perception skills is described. Bottom-up skills are the abilities to identify the constituents of syllables: onsets, nuclei, and codas in quiet and noise as produced by eight talkers. Top-down skills are the abilities to use knowledge of linguistic context to identify words in spoken sentences. The sentence module in SPATS emphasizes combined bottom-up/top-down abilities in perceiving sentences in noise. The word-initial onsets, stressed nuclei, and word-final codas are ranked in importance and grouped into subsets based on their importance. Testing utilizes random presentation of all the items included in a subset. Training in Quiet (SNR = 40 dB) or in Noise (SNR = 5 dB), is adaptively focused on individual listener's learnable items of intermediate difficulty. Alternatively, SNR-adaption training uses Kaernbach's algorithm to find the SNR required for a target percent correct. The unique sentence module trains the combination of bottom-up (hearing) with top-down (use of linguistic context) abilities to identify words in meaningful sentences in noise. Scoring in the sentence module is objective and automatic.

Efficacy of Individual Computer-Based Auditory Training for People with Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review of the Evidence

“…MSB = multi-speaker babble, SNHL = sensorineural hearing loss; SNR = signal to noise ratio, SRT = speech reception threshold, RAU = rationalised arcsine unit [49]; Adaptive spondee words in babble test [50]; Adaptive 12-choice spondee words with multiple jammers test [51]; AzBio sentences [52]; BKB = Bamford-Kowal-Bench sentence lists [53]; Build-a-sentence test [54]; CID Everyday Sentences = Central Institute for the Deaf everyday sentences [55]; CID W22 = Central Institute for the Deaf word lists [56]; CNC = consonant-vowel nucleus-consonant monosyllables [57]; CNC words [58]; Consonant recognition [59]; CSOA = Communication Scale for Older Adults [60]; CST-A = Connected Speech [audio] test [61]; CST-AV = Connected Speech [audio-visual] test [61]; CUNY = City University of New York sentences [62]; Everyday sounds localization test [63]; IEEE Sentences [64] Four-choice discrimination test [46]; GBI = Glasgow benefit inventory [65]; HHIA = Hearing handicap inventory for adults [66]; HHIE = Hearing handicap inventory for the elderly [67]; HINT = Hearing in noise test [68]; Iowa consonant test [69]; LACE = Listening and Communication Enhancement, [39]; Listening span test [11]; NST = Nonsense syllable test [70]; QuickSIN [70]; R-SPIN = Revised speech perception noise test [71]; SPATS = [72]; SPIN = Speech perception in noise test [73]; SSQ = Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale [74]; Stroop Color Word test [75]; TIMIT sentences [76]; VAST = Verb and sentence test [77]; Vowel recognition [78].…”

Preliminary evaluation of the Speech Perception Assessment and Training System (SPATS) with hearing-aid and cochlear-implant users

“…The methods and results are described. Additional details of the SPATS program are given by Miller et al, 2007.…”

Preliminary evaluation of the speech perception assessment and training system (SPATS) with hearing-aid and cochlear-implant users

“…A second sentence test was done auditorily but with the SNR adapted in accordance with the subjects' performance. These procedures are described in more detail in the companion paper Miller et al, 2007. Nuclei Level 1 consists of the 7 most important vowels of English.…”