Journal of Phonetics & Audiology
Open Access

Abstract

The Factors Affecting the Perception of Malayalam Time Compressed Speech in Children and Young Adults

Prashanth Prabhu, Mizna Abdul Rasheed and Theertha Dinesh

Objective: It was attempted to determine whether the speech identification scores (SIS) vary across compression ratios for Malayalam time compressed speech and monosyllables in children and young adults. The study attempted to assess stimulus and subject factors affecting the perception of Malayalam time compressed speech and monosyllables in children and young adults.
Method: PB words and monosyllables were time compressed at compression ratios of 50%, 60%, 70% and 80%. The speech identification scores were determined for each compression ratio for both stimuli in children and young adults.
Results: The speech identification scores (SIS) decreased with increase in compression ratio and there was no gender effect. The scores were poorer for children compared to young adults. The SIS was better for monosyllables at higher compression ratios.
Conclusion: The study recommends using 50% compression ratio while testing clinical population in children and young adults. Thus, understanding the factors affecting Malayalam time compressed speech helps in better utilization of the test in clinical population.