• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.109-115
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• 2012

This paper mainly aims to investigate how differently choral speech and altered auditory feedback (i.e., delayed auditory feedback, frequency-altered feedback) enhance speech fluency during sentence reading. To do this, a stuttering reduction rate was used and measured how much stuttering in frequency was reduced during each of the fluency enhancing conditions (i.e, typical choral reading, DAF, FAF) relative to typical solo reading. The results showed that stuttering frequency was reduced in the three fluency enhancing conditions and the highest mean value in stuttering reduction rate was observed during typical choral reading. Some discussion was provided in relation to the stuttering reduction rate observed during typical choral reading and its further speculation.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.79-89
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• 2005

Acoustic feedback between microphone and receiver can be effectively cancelled adaptive feedback cancellation algorithm. Although many speech sounds have non-Gaussian distribution, most algorithms were tested with speech like sounds whose distribution were Guassian type. In this paper, we proposed an adaptive feedback cancellation algorithm based on independent component analysis (ICA) for digital hearing aid. The algorithm was tested with not only Gaussian distribution but also Laplacian distribution. We verified that the proposed algorithm has better acoustic feedback cancelling performance than conventional normalized root mean square (NLMS) algorithm, especially speech like sounds with Laplacian distribution.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.215-226
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• 2005

This study is an attempt to investigate effect of pitch treatment program using visual feedback for profound deaf adults. Dr. Speech program was applied as a training tool. The subjects of this study were 3 profound deaf adults. Speech samples for evaluation were vowel prolongations and connected speech. Analysis was performed under the principle of single subject research design. As results of this study, all subjects showed the treatment effects which were represented by lowering fundamental frequency and speaking fundamental frequency.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.213-221
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• 2010

The number of North Korean refugees entering South Korea is continuously increasing. North Korean speakers show significant differences in vowel and consonant phonetics, length of vowels, and the rhythm and intonation of sentences. The object of this research was to examine the effectiveness of a speech intervention program for North Korean refugees using visual feedback through acoustical analysis for intonation. The subjects were three adults with no speech disabilities who had been in South Korea for less than five years. They had not received any prior treatment for inflection change. The program was set in a discourse situation and used Praat to evaluate intonation and provide visual feedback as demonstrating proper intonation changes through pitch contour. The results after intervention are as follows. First, intonation was significantly improved according to a 5-point subjective evaluation scale. Second, the pitch contour was similar to the contour of standard South Korean pronunciation. The subjects were very satisfied with this initial treatment and showed a high level of motivation. In subsequent study, the development of intervention and the comparison of interventions will be needed as well.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 2007

The severe-profound hearing impaired children have various disorders in everday communication due to the lack of hearing feedback. Especially, their speech produced unstable voice, omission and distortion of articulation, pitch break, cul-de-sac voice, and so on so that they were difficult to accurately deliver an intended message. This study attempts to analyze the acoustic characteristics of 4 vowel sounds produced by 35 severe-profound hearing impaired children using CSL(Computerized Speech Lab, Model 4300b). The formant data were obtained from the spectrogram and analyzed data by 12 formant filter and auto-correlation among the formants. Results showed that the hearing impaired children's formant values came out very high. They produced the vowels at the mode of hypertension with unstable voice. In order to improve their speech, they would need some adequate auditory feedback.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.62 no.12
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• pp.1744-1749
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• 2013

Acoustic feedback is perceived as whistling or howling, which is a major complaint of hearing-aids users. Acoustic feedback cancellation is important in hearing-aids because acoustic feedback degrades performance of the hearing aid device by reducing maximum insertion gain. Adaptive systems for estimate acoustic feedback path and feedback suppression algorithms have been proposed in order to solve this problem. A typical feedback cancellation algorithm is LMS(least mean squares) because of its computational efficiency. However it has problem of convergence performance in high correlated input signal. In this paper, we propose a new variable step-size normalized LMS(least mean squares) algorithm using VAD(voice activity detection) to overcome the limitation of the LMS algorithm. The VAD algorithm is GSAP(global speech absence probability) and the feedback cancellation algorithm is normalized LMS. The proposed algorithm applies different step-size between voice and non-voice using VAD, for high stability, fast convergence speed and low misalignment when correlated inputs, such as speech. The result of simulation with white noise mixed speech signal, the proposed algorithm shows high performance then traditional algorithm in terms of stability, convergence speed and misalignment.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.121-128
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: There is a scant evidence on the use of simulations in audiology (especially in Malaysia) for case-history taking, although this technique is widely used for training medical and nursing students. Feedback is one of the important components in simulations training; however, it is unknown if feedback by instructors could influence the simulated patient (SP) training outcome for case-history taking among audiology students. Aim of the present study is to determine whether the SP training with feedback in addition to the standard role-play and seminar training is an effective learning tool for audiology case-history taking. Subjects and Methods: Twenty-six second-year undergraduate audiology students participated. A cross-over study design was used. All students initially attended two hours of seminar and role-play sessions. They were then divided into three types of training, 1) SP training (Group A), 2) SP with feedback (Group B), and 3) a non-additional training group (Group C). After two training sessions, the students changed their types of training to, 1) Group A and C: SP training with feedback, and 2) Group B: non-additional training. All the groups were assessed at three points: 1) pre-test, 2) intermediate, and 3) post-test. The normalized median score differences between and within the respective groups were analysed using non-parametric tests at 95% confidence intervals. Results: Groups with additional SP trainings (with and without feedback) showed a significantly higher normalized gain score than no training group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The SP training (with/without feedback) is a beneficial learning tool for history taking to students in audiology major.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.121-128
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: There is a scant evidence on the use of simulations in audiology (especially in Malaysia) for case-history taking, although this technique is widely used for training medical and nursing students. Feedback is one of the important components in simulations training; however, it is unknown if feedback by instructors could influence the simulated patient (SP) training outcome for case-history taking among audiology students. Aim of the present study is to determine whether the SP training with feedback in addition to the standard role-play and seminar training is an effective learning tool for audiology case-history taking. Subjects and Methods: Twenty-six second-year undergraduate audiology students participated. A cross-over study design was used. All students initially attended two hours of seminar and role-play sessions. They were then divided into three types of training, 1) SP training (Group A), 2) SP with feedback (Group B), and 3) a non-additional training group (Group C). After two training sessions, the students changed their types of training to, 1) Group A and C: SP training with feedback, and 2) Group B: non-additional training. All the groups were assessed at three points: 1) pre-test, 2) intermediate, and 3) post-test. The normalized median score differences between and within the respective groups were analysed using non-parametric tests at 95% confidence intervals. Results: Groups with additional SP trainings (with and without feedback) showed a significantly higher normalized gain score than no training group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The SP training (with/without feedback) is a beneficial learning tool for history taking to students in audiology major.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.133-149
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• 2006

This study attempted to compare acoustic parameters, physiological observation and perceptual evaluation values obtained from the treatment and control groups in order to find out which of the self voice feedback therapies was better and which methods to train them were more effective. The experimental group carried out various self voice feedback therapies while the control group did only vocal hygiene. The acoustic measurement and voice manipulation for providing the patients visual, auditory feedback were done by a speech analysis software, Praat. The authors designed vocal hygiene, abdominal respiration and Praat self voice feedback therapies and applied them to 15 patients while applying only one vocal hygiene to 15 of the control group. For the purpose of examining the degree of their voice improvement after the treatment, pre- mid- and final evaluations were made for the two groups at the beginning, the 6th week and immediately after the 8th treatment session. Results of this study were as follows: The treatment group showed much improvement after receiving the voice treatment. In particular, acoustical and physiological indices from the optical endoscopy, pitch variation(Jitter), amplitude variation (Shimmer), maximum phonation time(MPT), and psychoacoustic evaluation showed statistically significant improvements over the control groups.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.621-630
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• 2018

This paper presents a case study on foreign language learning applications based on the speech recognition technology, aiming to grasp their current status and limitations of the technology applied to the foreign language speaking education, especially for English and French. As a result of examining the characteristics of the selected English and French applications by drawing on speech learning, it is shown that the use of speech recognition technology has the advantage of creating a speaking practice environment and giving feedback. However, in the case of feedback, there is a lack of appropriate calibration feedback which can help learners correct errors by themselves.