HESP Seminar Series: Dr. Larry Medwetsky

Title: Hierarchal Perception of Phonetic Features as a Function of Degree of Hearing Loss or Processing Related Deficits

Abstract:

Speech contrasts vary in different ways, such as intensity, temporal aspects, frequencies encompassed, etc.  For individuals with hearing loss, audibility of speech features is the most obvious impact of a hearing loss.  However, other aspects are affected as well, including temporal and frequency resolution.  Although the latter do not correspond in a one-to-one fashion with audibility, they do diminish in a fairly predictable fashion as a function of the degree of hearing loss.  In addition, individuals with normal hearing but disordered central auditory nervous system transmission also tend to have difficulty (taking into account audibility) perceiving phonetic features in a hierarchal fashion similar to that exhibited by children with hearing loss.  In this presentation, we will discuss a conceptualization of the hierarchal perception of speech contrasts, and discuss possible implications for assessment and treatment.

Next talk:
Wednesday, October 28, 12:00-1:00
Nozbanou Nozari, Johns Hopkins University

Schedule of upcoming talks:
https://hesp.umd.edu/content/seminar-series-0