Psychometrically equivalent bisyllabic words for speech recognition threshold testing in Vietnamese.

Objective: This study identified, digitally recorded, edited and evaluated 89 bisyllabic Vietnamese words with the goal of identifying homogeneous words that could be used to measure the speech recognition threshold (SRT) in native talkers of Vietnamese.

Design: Native male and female talker productions of 89 Vietnamese bisyllabic words were recorded, edited and then presented at intensities ranging from -10 to 20 dBHL. Logistic regression was used to identify the best words for measuring the SRT.

The effect of dialect on speech audiometry testing.

Purpose: In this study, the authors examined the validity of using materials from 2 nonregional yet mutually intelligible dialects to evaluate an individual's speech recognition threshold (SRT) and word recognition (WR) abilities and whether a speaker of 1 dialect could accurately administer and score materials in the other dialect.

Method: Previously created SRT and WR materials were presented to 32 Mandarin listeners with normal hearing: 16 speakers of Mainland Mandarin and 16 speakers of Taiwan Mandarin. Hearing abilities were examined using SRT and WR materials created for speakers from 2 different regional dialects.

The development of psychometrically equivalent Cantonese speech audiometry materials.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop and psychometrically evaluate speech audiometry materials that can be used to measure word recognition (WR) and speech recognition testing (SRT) in quiet for native speakers of Cantonese.

Study Sample: Commonly used bisyllabic and trisyllabic Cantonese words were digitally recorded by native male and female talkers and then evaluated by twenty normal-hearing Cantonese listeners.

Design: The recorded bisyllabic words were psychometrically evaluated and arranged into four WR lists and eight half-lists that are relatively homogeneous in audibility.

Word recognition materials for native speakers of Taiwan Mandarin.

Purpose: To select, digitally record, evaluate, and psychometrically equate word recognition materials that can be used to measure the speech perception abilities of native speakers of Taiwan Mandarin in quiet.

Method: Frequently used bisyllabic words produced by male and female talkers of Taiwan Mandarin were digitally recorded and subsequently evaluated using 20 native listeners with normal hearing at 10 intensity levels (-5 to 40 dB HL) in increments of 5 dB.

Results: Using logistic regression, 200 words with the steepest psychometric slopes were divided into 4 lists and 8 half-lists that were relatively equivalent in psychometric function slope.

Development of speech reception threshold materials for speakers of Taiwan Mandarin.

The aim of this research was to develop, digitally record, evaluate, and equate speech audiometry materials that can be used to measure the speech reception threshold (SRT) in quiet for native speakers of Taiwan Mandarin. Familiar trisyllabic words were digitally recorded by male and female talkers of Taiwan Mandarin and subsequently evaluated by 20 native listeners with normal hearing at 14 intensity levels (-10 to 16 dB HL) in 2 dB increments. Using logistic regression, psychometric functions were calculated for all words.

Psychometrically equivalent Russian speech audiometry materials by male and female talkers.

Despite the large number of individuals who speak Russian, only a limited number of high-quality speech audiometry materials are available in a standard dialect of Russian. Thus, the purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate speech audiometry materials that can be used to measure word recognition and SRT testing in quiet for native speakers of Russian. Familiar monosyllabic and bisyllabic words were digitally recorded by male and female talkers of Russian and subsequently evaluated by native listeners.

West Nile virus infection among health-fair participants, Wyoming 2003: assessment of symptoms and risk factors.

Wyoming experienced heavy West Nile virus (WNV) activity for the first time in 2003 and the area hardest hit was Goshen County. Little was known about the epidemiology of WNV in this region. This study describes the symptomatology of WNV and the association between certain behaviors and infection in Goshen County.

Psychometrically equivalent trisyllabic words for speech reception threshold testing in Mandarin.

The aim of this investigation was to develop, digitally record, evaluate, and equate Mandarin trisyllabic words, which could then be used to measure the SRT. A selection of 90 frequently utilized trisyllabic words were digitally recorded by male and female talkers of Standard Mandarin and presented to 20 normally hearing subjects at 13 intensity levels (-10 to 14dB HL) in 2dB increments. Using logistic regression, psychometric functions were then calculated for all words.

Psychometrically equivalent Mandarin bisyllabic speech discrimination materials spoken by male and female talkers.

The purpose of this study was to develop, digitally record, evaluate, and psychometrically equate a set of Mandarin bisyllabic word lists for use in measurement of speech discrimination. Familiar bisyllabic words were digitally recorded by male and female talkers of Standard Mandarin. Percentage of correct word recognition was measured for each word at ten intensity levels ( -5 to 40 dB HL) in 5 dB increments using 20 normally hearing subjects.

A Simplified Method for Calibrating a Sound-Level Meter for Use With a Brüel & Kjær Artificial Mastoid.

The standard method for calibrating a sound-level meter for use with the Brüel & Kjær Artificial Mastoid for bone vibrator tests entails the use of a signal generator, a precision voltmeter, and possibly a frequency counter. This equipment should be certified annually and traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and its use generally restricts calibration to a laboratory environment and requires a considerable amount of time. We have developed a simplified method for calibrating the sound-level meter by using a sound-level calibrator and microphone.