Choice of speech features for tactile presentation to the profoundly deaf

Author

Summers, Ian R. ; Gratton, Denise A.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys., Exeter Univ., UK

Volume

3

Issue

1

fYear

1995

fDate

3/1/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

117

Lastpage

121

Abstract

Measurements have been made, using acoustic presentation of stimuli, to compare a variety of speech-derived signals (amplitude envelope, voice fundamental frequency, second-formant frequency, zero-crossing frequency, and an “on/off” control derived from the amplitude envelope via a comparator) as to their suitability for tactile presentation to the profoundly deaf as an aid to speech reception. Segmental (phonemic) information was conveyed adequately by all five signals; suprasegmental (stress) information was conveyed very well by voice fundamental frequency, and significantly less well by the other signals. The best choice of speech features for presentation via a practical tactile aid is discussed

Keywords

mechanoception; sensory aids; speech processing; acoustic presentation; amplitude envelope; on/off control; phonemic information; practical tactile aid; profoundly deaf; second-formant frequency; segmental information; speech features choice; speech-derived signals; tactile presentation; voice fundamental frequency; zero-crossing frequency; Acoustic transducers; Amplitude modulation; Data mining; Deafness; Electrodes; Frequency; Physics; Signal design; Skin; Speech;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Rehabilitation Engineering, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1063-6528

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/86.372901

Filename

372901