The Application of Time–Frequency Masking To Improve Intelligibility of Dysarthric Speech in Background Noise.

Purpose: Background noise reduces speech intelligibility. Time–frequency (T-F) masking is an established signal processing technique that improves intelligibility of neurotypical speech in background noise. Here, we investigated a novel application of T-F masking, assessing its potential to improve...

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Publicado en:Journal of Speech, Language & Hearing Research Vol. 66; pp. 1853 - 1867
Autores principales: Borrie, Stephanie A., Yoho, Sarah E., Healy, Eric W., Barrett, Tyson S.
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association May2023
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: May2023
      vid: 66
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      pub: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
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        163674970
        10.1044/2023_JSLHR-22-00558
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        atl: The Application of Time–Frequency Masking To Improve Intelligibility of Dysarthric Speech in Background Noise.
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        au:
          Borrie, Stephanie A.
          Yoho, Sarah E.
          Healy, Eric W.
          Barrett, Tyson S.
        affil:
          Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education, Utah State University, Logan.
          Department of Speech and Hearing Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus.
          Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan.
      su:
        Utah
        Task performance
        Speech perception
        Dysarthria
        Intelligibility of speech
        Noise
        Masking (Psychology)
        Research funding
        Descriptive statistics
        Listening
      sug:
        subj:
          Task performance
          Utah
          Speech perception
          Dysarthria
          Intelligibility of speech
          Noise
          Masking (Psychology)
          Research funding
          Descriptive statistics
          Listening
      ab: Purpose: Background noise reduces speech intelligibility. Time–frequency (T-F) masking is an established signal processing technique that improves intelligibility of neurotypical speech in background noise. Here, we investigated a novel application of T-F masking, assessing its potential to improve intelligibility of neurologically degraded speech in background noise. Method: Listener participants (N = 422) completed an intelligibility task either in the laboratory or online, listening to and transcribing audio recordings of neurotypical (control) and neurologically degraded (dysarthria) speech under three different processing types: speech in quiet (quiet), speech mixed with cafeteria noise (noise), and speech mixed with cafeteria noise and then subsequently processed by an ideal quantized mask (IQM) to remove the noise. Results: We observed significant reductions in intelligibility of dysarthric speech, even at highly favorable signal-to-noise ratios (+11 to +23 dB) that did not impact neurotypical speech. We also observed significant intelligibility improvements from speech in noise to IQM-processed speech for both control and dysarthric speech across a wide range of noise levels. Furthermore, the overall benefit of IQM processing for dysarthric speech was comparable with that of the control speech in background noise, as was the intelligibility data collected in the laboratory versus online. Conclusions: This study demonstrates proof of concept, validating the application of T-F masks to a neurologically degraded speech signal. Given that intelligibility challenges greatly impact communication, and thus the lives of people with dysarthria and their communication partners, the development of clinical tools to enhance intelligibility in this clinical population is critical.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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