Most noise reduction algorithms rely on obtaining reliable estimates of the SNR of each frequency bin. For that reason, much work has been done in analyzing the behavior and performance of SNR estimation algorithms in the context of improving speech quality and reducing speech distortions (e.g., musical noise). Comparatively little work has been reported, however, regarding the analysis and inv...

This paper describes automatic terminology intelligibility estimation for readership-oriented technical writing. We assume that the term frequency weighted by the types of documents can be an indicator of the term intelligibility for a certain readership. From this standpoint, we analyzed the relationship between the following: average intelligibility levels of 46 technical terms that were rate...

This study investigated the intelligibility of native and Mandarin-accented English speech for native English and native Mandarin listeners. The word-final voicing contrast was considered (as in minimal pairs such as `cub' and `cup') in a forced-choice word identification task. For these particular talkers and listeners, there was evidence of an interlanguage speech intelligibility benefit for ...

The current study investigated why the intelligibility of expressive speech in noise varies as a function of the emotion expressed (e.g., happiness being more intelligible than sadness), even though the signal-to-noise ratio is the same. We tested the straightforward proposal that the expression of some emotions affect speech intelligibility by shifting spectral energy above the energy profile ...

Understanding low-intelligibility speech is effortful. In three experiments, we examined the effects of intelligibility on working memory (WM) demands imposed by perception of synthetic speech. In all three experiments, a primary speeded word recognition task was paired with a secondary WM-load task designed to vary the availability of WM capacity during speech perception. Speech intelligibilit...

The measurement of intelligibility in dysarthric individuals is a major concern in clinical assessment and management and in research on dysarthria. The measurement objective is complicated by the fact that intelligibility is not an absolute quantity but rather a relative quantity that depends on variables such as test material, personnel, training, test procedures, and state of the speaker. Th...

 Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to determine the auditory performance of congenitally deaf children and the effect of cochlear implantation (CI) on speech intelligibility. Methods: Aprospective study was undertaken on 47 children in a pediatric tertiary referral center for CI. All children were deaf prelingually and were younger than 8 years of age. They were followed up until 5...

There is a debate in the literature on whether the intelligibility of English second language (L2) speech is more affected, among other things, by incorrect vowel reduction or by incorrect word stress placement. Identifying which features interfere most with intelligibility will assist in selecting what to prioritize in teaching pronunciation. The focus of ...

Recebido em 28.11.2007. Revisado em 01.03.2008; 26.05.2008. Aceito para Publicação em 26.05.2008. Abstract Background: contextual cues intrinsic to speech stimuli can have an influence on speech intelligibility measurements; however, the influence of cues that depend on the acoustic signal, such as speech rate and vocal loudness, need further investigation. Aim: to examine whether possible redu...