The assessment of reading readiness using multidimensionally scored time-compressed speech.

Normal-hearing children (39 M, 36 F) from a monolingual environment, aged 5 yrs 10 mo to 7 yrs 2 mo, of average or better intelligence, were selected as being at high, average, or low risk of reading readiness according to scores on the Lindamood Auditory Conceptualization (LAC) test. Ss were also given the Stephens Oral Language Screening Test (SOLST), emphasizing syntactical development. Ss were then tested for verbal respeating of taped 5-word sentences and 5-word 1st-order sentential approximations at 32 db SL re SRT. Stimuli were presented at 0, 40, or 60% time compression (TC). Responses were scored right/wrong and also by Porch's multidimensional system involving repeats and cues. For both systems significant effects were obtained between a number of TC conditions vs both the LAC and SOLST. The LAC appeared to emphasize phonetic units, the SOLST linguistic units in real sentences. The TC condition appeared to emphasize linguistic units at both word and sentence levels, less so with increasing TC. Results supported the usefulness of the TC stimuli in assessing reading readiness and it was suggested that the various stimuli assess different aspects of auditory processing.

Children's performance on multidimensionally scored time-compressed sentential stimuli.

Normative data were obtained for 96 children with normal auditory and language abilities in grades 2, 4, and 6 when presented monaurally with time-compressed (TC) sentences and 1st- and 2nd-order sentential approximations at 32 db re SRT. Oral responses were taped and multidimensionally scored in order to sensitize the test. Consistent with previous reports of normative data at other age levels, performance became poorer for 0 to either 40 or 60% TC (there was a negligible difference between the latter), was better for normal sentences than for sentential approximations, and improved slightly in the higher grades.

Normal-hearing teenagers' performance on time-compressed sentential stimuli.

Teenagers with normal hearing, reading, and learning abilities yielded normative data on time-compressed speech, either the Revised CID sentences or 3rd-order sentential approximations. There were 6 Ss, either all boys or all girls, in each of 12 subgroups combining age (median ages: 13, 15, 17 yrs), gender (M or F), SPL of test (45 or 60 db SPL), type of material ( RCIDs or sentential approximations), and percent time compression (0, 40, or 60%). The expected poorer performance was found with sentential approximations, either increased time compression, and with decreased level. This study provides normative data for teenagers' performance on tests of time-compressed sentential material.

Age effects on performance on the Willeford Central Auditory Processing Test Battery.

This investigation provided data on the performance of 94 men and women (24 aged 18-24 yrs, 24 aged 60-66 yrs, 24 aged 67-73 yrs and 22 aged 74-80 yrs) presented a tape recording of Willeford's Central Auditory Processing Test Battery (Audiol. Hear. Educ., 1976, 2, 12-20) kindly provided by Willeford. Significant effects for age and sex and/or ear were obtained on all subtests and lists, thereby suggesting the need to control these factors as a clinical test version when associated normative data are developed.

Adults' item and order errors on sequences of time-compressed rhyming words.

This investigation provided normative data for the intelligibility of time-compressed (TC) phonemes in 40 normal-hearing adults aged 18-26 yrs. Individual Ss were presented with 5-word rhyming sequences from the Fairbanks Rhyme Test (e.g., cat-bat-hat-mat-rat) sent to a monaural earphone at 40 db re SRT, and required to write the initial phonemes in the order as heard. Sequences were either at normal speed or at 60% TC, either unmasked or under contralateral multitalker masking at 65 db re SRT, counterbalanced for ear (R,L) and presentation order (R-L, L-R). Significant effects for both TC and masking were obtained with separate analyses of item and order errors. The findings support the diagnostic potential of these stimuli in detecting and documenting subtle auditory perceptual problems in adults, since they were consistent with findings for other stimuli known to be diagnostically effective and have the further property of tapping memory and sequencing abilities. Significant interactions with the factor of ear (R vs L) suggest that the stimuli may be especially sensitive to ear differences. Similar studies with groups such as those with high-level aphasia, sickle cell anemia, repeated strokes, etc., should be forthcoming to determine the clinical utility of these materials and procedures.

Children's item and other errors on time-compressed, sequenced rhyming words.

This investigation provided normative data for the performance of 36 M and 36 F children in 3 groups averaging 8, 10, and 12 yrs old, presented time-compressed (TC) rhyme sequences under multitalker masking and no masking conditions. Analysis of both item and order errors yielded significant effects for TC and masking conditions. These effects were consistent with findings for stimuli previously found useful in assessing auditory perceptual problems, thereby supporting the diagnostic potential of these stimuli. Analysis of the order errors also yielded several higher-order interactions which appeared to be clinically negligible but supportive of the suggestion that order errors may be especially sensitive to subtle pathological problems.

Auditory perceptual abilities of formerly misarticulating children.

12 children who recently had satisfactorily completed therapy for 4+ phonemes, and normal controls, were given tasks of auditory perception consisting of (a) repeating 5-word recorded sentences (0, 1st- and 2nd-order approximations) at 0 and at 60% time compression, and (b) diotic and dichotic presentations at 40 db SL of the WIPI test split into 2 bandwidths (500-580 and 1950-2080 c/s). Results showed that the performance of the experimental Ss was significantly poorer than that of age-matched controls on time-compressed speech, but not on the binaural fusion task. The greatest diagnostic potential for time-compressed speech was at 60% compression. Results contrasted with previous data showing significantly poorer performance of severely misarticulating children on a binaural summation task (Flowers and Costello, J. Aud. Res., 1963, 3, 133-140). There is a need to monitor the auditory perceptual abilities of formerly misarticulating children with a battery of more than a single test.

Articulatory effects of monaural and binaural masking in normal speaking adults wearing palatal appliances.

Ten normal speaking adults (five male, five female) performed three speaking tasks during conditions of monaural and binaural masking with and without complete palatal appliances. Significant effects on the subjects' articulation were found for the factors of masking type, palatal appliance and speaking task. No significant effects were found for monaural right- versus monaural left-ear masking or sex of the speakers. The findings are similar to previous results using binaural masking and indicate that the disruptive effect of monaural masking on the articulation of adult subjects is approximately midway between the effects of no masking and binaural masking. It is suggested that the lack of a significant effect for right-ear versus left-ear monaural masking may be due to the high degree of automatization which subjects possessed for the stimuli used in the speaking tasks.