Speech and Voice Characteristics of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals

Last Updated: 8/26/04 13:51 by HW

Purpose:

This module provides information regarding speech and voice characteristics. The purpose of this module is 1) to describe and illustrate parameters that may be assessed and 2) to provide practice and evaluation exercises to promote the development of assessment knowledge and skills.

Structure:

This module is set up with three parts: training, practice, and evaluation.

In the training section, different characteristics are described and 5-point rating scales are presented for assessing each characteristic. There is one example of each rating for each characteristic.

In the practice section, three samples are provided for each characteristic. After listening to a sample, the listener selects a rating and then receives feedback on accuracy.

In the evaluation section, 100 samples are provided for assessment. The samples are subdivided into assessment categories. After listening to a sample, the listener selects a rating. Feedback on accuracy can be provided immediately or at the end of a section.
A response is considered correct if the rating is within one scale value.

Progression through module:

Listeners have flexibility in sequencing the learning activities. This flexibility accommodates differences related to individual knowledge and skill, learning styles or preferences, time constraints, interests, etc.

It is recommended that novice or inexperienced listeners progress sequentially through the module. This entails training followed by practice for each characteristic. Evaluation can occur subsequent to training and practice for each characteristic, or it can occur at the end when all training and practice is complete.

More experienced listeners may want to pick particular characteristics for review and evaluation. If desired, the evaluation can be used as a pretest to identify characteristics needing training.

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Training Exercises

Characteristic #1 – Intelligibility

Rating		Listen to Audio Sample
Level 1	Speech is completely unintelligible.	(Male) Listen
Level 2	Speech is very difficult to understand-only isolated words or phrases are intelligible	(Male) Listen
Level 3	With difficulty, the listener can understand about half the content of the message (intelligibility may improve after a listening period).	(Male) Listen
Level 4	Speech is intelligible with the exception of a few words or phrases	(Male) Listen
Level 5	Speech is completely intelligible	(Male) Listen

Characteristic #2 – Pitch Register

Characteristic #3 – Pitch Control

Characteristic #4 – Rate

Characteristic #5 – Control of Air Expenditure

Characteristic #6 – Prosodic Features

Characteristic #7 – Breathy-Weak

Characteristic #8 – Tense - Harsh

Characteristic #9 – Nasal Resonance

Characteristic #10 – Pharyngeal Resonance

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Practice Exercises

Instructions:
1. Click on a link to listen to the sample.
2. Select a rating in he Learner Response box. Click here for a list of ratings.
3. Click the Submit Response button to enter your response.
4. Correct answers appear after a response is entered.

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NTID Speech and Voice 100-Item Final Evaluation

http://www.ntid.rit.edu/speechlang/characteristics/eval.php

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