Research Database

Fidelity of automatic speech processing for adult and child talker classifications

Topic:

NA

Authors:

VanDam, Silbert

Journal/Publication:

PLoS ONE

Year:

2016
Participant Age Range:
NR –
NR months

Sample Size:

26

Participant Language:

NR

Abstract:

Automatic speech processing (ASP) has recently been applied to very large datasets of naturalistically collected, daylong recordings of child speech via an audio recorder worn by young children. The system developed by the LENA Research Foundation analyzes children’s speech for research and clinical purposes, with special focus on of identifying and tagging family speech dynamics and the at-home acoustic environment from the auditory perspective of the child. A primary issue for researchers, clinicians, and families using the Language ENvironment Analysis (LENA) system is to what degree the segment labels are valid. This classification study evaluates the performance of the computer ASP output against 23 trained human judges who made about 53,000 judgements of classification of segments tagged by the LENA ASP. Results indicate performance consistent with modern ASP such as those using HMM methods, with acoustic characteristics of fundamental frequency and segment duration most important for both human and machine classifications. Results are likely to be important for interpreting and improving ASP output.

Free Webinar: Interaction Data as Quality Systems Evolve

Every state’s quality system is designed to answer an important question: is a program providing high-quality care and learning experiences for children?

Yet quality is a moving target — in how it’s defined, how it’s measured, how it’s communicated, what it means for children in the classroom. As states evolve their approaches – some using rating systems and others emphasizing continuous quality improvement – understanding the indicators that matter most has never been more important.

Read more here > 

October 14 at 1:00 p.m. ET