The Parsing Syllable Envelopes Test for Assessment of Amplitude Modulation Discrimination Skills in Children: Development, Normative Data, and Test-Retest Reliability Studies
The Parsing Syllable Envelopes Test for Assessment of Amplitude Modulation Discrimination Skills in Children: Development, Normative Data, and Test-Retest Reliability Studies
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DOI：
10.3766/jaaa.16146
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发表时间：
2018-02-01
影响因子：
1.2
通讯作者：
Young, Taegan
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Cameron, Sharon;Chong-White, Nicky;Young, Taegan
背景：声音信号中的强度峰和谷是音节结构的显着线索，这被认为是语音处理中关键的早期步骤。因此，检测信号幅度的低速率（包络）调制的能力对于将传入的语音信号解析为更小的语音单元至关重要。目的：开发解析音节包络 (ParSE) 测试是为了量化儿童使用幅度调制检测范例识别音节边界的能力。 750 毫秒稳态 /a/ 元音的包络线使用调制深度沿 11 步连续在 0% 到 100% 之间变化的陷波调制成两个或三个伪音节。在适应性三项强制选择程序中，参与者确定是否听到了一个、两个或三个伪音节。研究设计：制定 ParSE 刺激和测试方案，并收集规范性和重测可靠性数据。研究样本：11 名成年人（23 岁 10 个月至 50 岁 9 个月，平均 32 岁 10 个月）和 134 名正常发育的小学生（10 岁） 6 年 0 个月至 12 年 4 个月，平均 9 年 3 个月）。其中男性 73 名，女性 72 名。 数据收集和分析：使用触摸屏计算机收集数据。 ParSE 软件自动将心理测量函数 (PF) 拟合到个人数据中。性能与可以以 88% 的准确度检测音节的调制深度（称为不确定区域的上边界 [UBUR]）相关。 PF 斜率越小反映了更大程度的不确定性。年龄影响是根据原始分数确定的。 z 计算分数以考虑年龄对表现的影响。异常值以及 UBUR 置信区间超过最大允许值的个别数据均被删除。由于数据偏向于负面表现，所以使用了非参数测试。结果：在参与者中，中值调制深度达到了 42% 的表现标准 (UBUR)。年龄对 UBUR 的影响显着 (p < 0.00001)。 UBUR 的调制深度范围为 6 岁儿童的 50% 到成人的 25%。 6-10岁儿童的不确定性区域边界显着高于成人。出现了向负面绩效倾斜的分布 (p = 0.00007)。男性和女性在 ParSE 上的表现没有显着差异 (p = 0.60)。重测 z 分数呈强相关性（r = 0.68，p < 0.0000001）。 结论：ParSE 规范数据表明，根据调幅变化识别音节边界的能力随着年龄的增长而提高，并且一般人群中的一些儿童的表现比同龄人差得多。该测试适用于临床人群的计划研究。
Background: Intensity peaks and valleys in the acoustic signal are salient cues to syllable structure, which is accepted to be a crucial early step in phonological processing. As such, the ability to detect low-rate (envelope) modulations in signal amplitude is essential to parse an incoming speech signal into smaller phonological units.Purpose: The Parsing Syllable Envelopes (ParSE) test was developed to quantify the ability of children to recognize syllable boundaries using an amplitude modulation detection paradigm. The envelope of a 750-msec steady-state /a/ vowel is modulated into two or three pseudo-syllables using notches with modulation depths varying between 0% and 100% along an 11-step continuum. In an adaptive three-alternative forced-choice procedure, the participant identified whether one, two, or three pseudo-syllables were heard.Research Design: Development of the ParSE stimuli and test protocols, and collection of normative and test-retest reliability data.Study Sample: Eleven adults (aged 23 yr 10mo to 50 yr 9mo, mean 32 yr 10mo) and 134 typically developing, primary-school children (aged 6 yr 0 mo to 12 yr 4 mo, mean 9 yr 3 mo). There were 73 males and 72 females.Data Collection and Analysis: Data were collected using a touchscreen computer. Psychometric functions (PFs) were automatically fit to individual data by the ParSE software. Performance was related to the modulation depth at which syllables can be detected with 88% accuracy (referred to as the upper boundary of the uncertainty region [UBUR]). A shallower PF slope reflected a greater level of uncertainty. Age effects were determined based on raw scores. z Scores were calculated to account for the effect of age on performance. Outliers, and individual data for which the confidence interval of the UBUR exceeded a maximum allowable value, were removed. Nonparametric tests were used as the data were skewed toward negative performance.Results: Across participants, the performance criterion (UBUR) was met with a median modulation depth of 42%. The effect of age on the UBUR was significant (p < 0.00001). The UBUR ranged from 50% modulation depth for 6-yr-olds to 25% for adults. Children aged 6-10 had significantly higher uncertainty region boundaries than adults. A skewed distribution toward negative performance occurred (p = 0.00007). There was no significant difference in performance on the ParSE between males and females (p = 0.60). Test-retest z scores were strongly correlated (r = 0.68, p < 0.0000001).Conclusions: The ParSE normative data show that the ability to identify syllable boundaries based on changes in amplitude modulation improves with age, and that some children in the general population have performance much worse than their age peers. The test is suitable for use in planned studies in a clinical population.