A TEST OF CHILDREN'S ENGLISH/SPANISH SPEECH PERCEPTION IN NOISE OR SPEECH MASKERS

项目概要/摘要 在美国，超过15%的儿童在讲西班牙语的家庭中长大。然而，临床评估 学龄前儿童和学龄儿童的言语感知通常使用英语材料进行 以安静、稳定的噪音或多人喋喋不休的方式呈现。我们知道言语感知的分数 当测试是在听众的母语执行。我们还知道，听力障碍有更多的 对复杂掩蔽中的语音感知的有害影响（例如，2-3在噪音中，或 胡言乱语因此，评估西班牙语儿童言语感知的典型方法是，使用 英语目标和稳定的噪音，不太可能提供完整的功能性听力。这个目标 建议是开发一种临床测试，用于评估英语和西班牙语的掩蔽言语感知， 复杂的语音或稳定的噪声背景。拟议的工作建立在可行性研究的基础上， Calandruccio et al.（2014 b），引入了一个四种选择，强制选择图片指向阈值 可以用英语或西班牙语进行评估任务。目标词是双音节名词 这是幼儿熟悉的，掩蔽物是语音形状的噪音或两个说话者的语音。所记录的 指示和图片指向响应意味着测试者不需要流利地使用测试语言。四个- 另一种形式也适用于评估言语产生能力差的儿童。目标1将完善 测试材料和程序，包括阈值估计参数的优化， 用于临床环境的软件的实现。目标2将建立测试的信度和效度跨听众 年龄和听力状况。阈值规范和心理测量功能斜率的估计值将获得4- 包括西班牙语/英语双语者和英语单语者。性能 听力损失儿童，包括助听器和人工耳蜗使用者，将相对于 在现实生活中的听力情况下的功能表现的估计。目标3将评估 七个繁忙的忙碌儿童听力诊所。测试结果将与目前使用的措施进行比较， 评估讲西班牙语和英语的儿童（例如，纯音听阈和英语PBK 分数），以及家长关于语言能力和功能性听力的问卷调查数据 能力将征求临床医生反馈，以进一步改进测试程序。研究小组聚集在一起， 开展拟议的工作包括基础听力科学、听力发展、临床方面的专业知识 研究，双语，并提供临床护理，确保最终产品将是一个临床 这是一个既严谨又实用的工具。最终的结果有望提高我们的听力能力， 评估和管理讲英语，西班牙语或两种语言的儿童。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Over 15% of children in the US are raised in Spanish-speaking homes. However, clinical assessment of speech perception in preschoolers and school-age children is generally performed using English materials presented in quiet, in steady noise, or in multi-talker babble. We know that speech perception scores are better when testing is performed in a listener’s native language. We also know that hearing impairment has a more detrimental effect on speech perception in a complex masker (e.g., 2-3 streams of speech) than in noise or babble. Therefore, the typical approach of evaluating Spanish-speaking children’s speech perception, using English targets and steady noise, is unlikely to provide a full account of functional hearing. The goal of this proposal is to develop a clinical test for evaluating masked speech perception in English and in Spanish, in either a complex speech or a steady noise background. The proposed work builds on the feasibility study of Calandruccio et al. (2014b), which introduced a four-alternative, forced-choice picture-pointing threshold estimation task that can be administered in either English or Spanish. Target words are disyllabic nouns familiar to young children, and maskers are either speech-shaped noise or two-talker speech. The recorded instructions and picture-pointing response means the tester need not be fluent in the test language. The four- alternative format also accommodates assessment of children with poor speech production. Aim 1 will refine the test materials and procedures, including optimization of threshold estimation parameters and implementation of software for a clinical setting. Aim 2 will establish test reliability and validity across listener age and hearing status. Threshold norms and estimates of psychometric function slopes will be obtained for 4- to 12-year-olds, including both Spanish/English bilingual and monolingual English speakers. Performance of children with hearing loss, including hearing aid and cochlear implant users, will be evaluated relative to estimates of functional performance in real-life listening situations. Aim 3 will evaluate the test procedures in seven busy pediatric audiology clinics. Test results will be compared with measures that are currently used to evaluate Spanish- and English-speaking children (e.g., pure-tone thresholds and English-language PBK scores), and with questionnaire data from parents regarding language proficiency and functional hearing ability. Clinician feedback will be solicited to further improve test procedures. The research team assembled to carry out the proposed work includes expertise in basic hearing science, auditory development, clinical research, bilingualism, and the provision of clinical care, ensuring that the final product will be a clinical instrument that is both rigorous and practical. The end result is expected to improve our ability to audiologically evaluate and manage children who speak English, Spanish or both languages.