A Method for Measuring Speech Intelligibility Using Connected Speech

Abstract

Purpose: This study presents an experimental method for measuring speech intelligibility using connected speech in a competing-talker paradigm. Method: Short target sentences from a well-established speech intelligibility test were embedded in excerpts of connected speech spoken by the same talker and presented to the listener in the presence of an interfering signal consisting of connected speech spoken by a different talker of the same sex. The method was evaluated in normal-hearing (NH) and hearing-impaired (HI) listeners. Speech intelligibility scores for short sentences embedded in connected speech were compared with the intelligibility of the same short sentences not embedded in connected speech, using the same type of masker. Results: No average difference in speech intelligibility was found between the two presentation modes for NH or HI listeners. Large variability was observed across listeners, especially across HI listeners, suggesting individual benefits in one of the two presentation modes. Conclusion: The proposed method enables speech-intelligibility testing using connected speech and thus provides an experimental tool for measuring how speech perception is influenced by signal characteristics and signal-processing algorithms that require a relatively long time window to yield perceptual effects.