Effects of short-term implicit voice familiarization on children's speech-in-noise recognition

Mary Flaherty, Rachael Price

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The goal of this study was to evaluate the extent to which implicit voice familiarization via an interactive computer game can improve children's ability to recognize words presented in classroom noise. Children's (8-12 yrs.) closed-set word recognition was measured in a classroom noise masker before and after voice familiarization. Target words were spoken by two females, one the children would be familiarized with (“familiar talker”), and one they would not (“unfamiliar talker”). Following the pre-test, children were given a take-home computer game, designed for this study, to be played for 10 minutes a day for 5 days. During the game, children heard one voice (“familiar talker”) instructing them to move their avatar towards various objects. Children then returned to the lab for the post-test. To evaluate the benefit of voice familiarity and test for generalization effects, four conditions were tested (pre- and post-gameplay): (1) familiar talker, familiar words, (2) unfamiliar talker, familiar words (3) familiar talker, unfamiliar words, and (4) unfamiliar talker, unfamiliar words. Working memory, attention, and inhibitory control were measured using the NIH toolbox cognition subtests. Preliminary results indicate word recognition improved for conditions with the familiar talker, highlighting the importance of knowledge-based factors during children's speech-in-noise recognition.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationForum Acusticum 2023 - 10th Convention of the European Acoustics Association, EAA 2023
PublisherEuropean Acoustics Association, EAA
ISBN (Electronic)9788888942674
StatePublished - 2023
Event10th Convention of the European Acoustics Association, EAA 2023 - Torino, Italy
Duration: Sep 11 2023Sep 15 2023

Publication series

NameProceedings of Forum Acusticum
ISSN (Print)2221-3767

Conference

Conference10th Convention of the European Acoustics Association, EAA 2023
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityTorino
Period9/11/239/15/23

Keywords

  • children
  • familiarity training
  • implicit learning
  • speech recognition
  • talker familiarity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Acoustics and Ultrasonics

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