Research in AAC
Speech Synthesis Intelligibility and Listener Comprehension
What are the goals of the project?
The goals of these projects are to investigate the intelligibility and comprehensibility of
synthesized speech in naturalistic conditions.
As technologies continue to advance, the intelligibility and comprehensibility of synthesized
speech (the speech output of many AAC communication devices) have been shown to be relative good
under ideal conditions (e.g., in quiet, with normal-hearing listeners). However, little is known
about the intelligibility and comprehensibility of synthesized speech in less-than-ideal
environments, such as when the environment is noisy or the listener is hearing-impaired or
distracted.
What is the project plan?
We have initiated a series of projects that will investigate speech synthesis under naturalistic
conditions. Currently, there are three projects under investigation. The first is designed to
address a listener’s ability to comprehend synthesized speech under various levels of noise.
The second is designed to investigate the intelligibility and comprehensibility of synthesized
speech by young children in a daycare environment. The third will compare the intelligibility
of synthesized speech when the listener can only hear the speaker, versus when the listener can
both hear and see the individual who uses AAC. Other projects within this series are currently
being planned.
What is the potential impact of this research?
By investigating the intelligibility and comprehensibility of synthesized speech under
naturalistic conditions, this research will help to determine strategies to make message
transmission via AAC communication technologies more efficient, and provide suggestions for
future technological advances in AAC specifications.
Who is working on the project?
The project team consists of Kathryn Drager, Ph.D., and a number of undergraduate and graduate
students, including Elizabeth Clark, Megan Cosgrove, Mary Dunn, Kerry Frey, Holly Hamilton,
Nicole Natale, Diana Nimmo, and Jennifer Roeser.
What is the funding source?
These projects are supported by the Department of Communication Disorders at Penn State
University.
What is the timeline for the project?
The projects were initiated at various times and will be completed in 2000 and 2001.
Where can I find out more about the project?
For more information, contact Kathryn Drager. KDD5@psu.edu
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