# A TEST OF CHILDREN'S ENGLISH/SPANISH SPEECH PERCEPTION IN NOISE OR SPEECH MASKERS

> **NIH NIH R01** · FATHER FLANAGAN'S BOYS' HOME · 2020 · $471,555

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Over 15% of children in the US are raised in Spanish-speaking homes. However, clinical assessment of
speech perception in preschoolers and school-age children is generally performed using English materials
presented in quiet, in steady noise, or in multi-talker babble. We know that speech perception scores are better
when testing is performed in a listener’s native language. We also know that hearing impairment has a more
detrimental effect on speech perception in a complex masker (e.g., 2-3 streams of speech) than in noise or
babble. Therefore, the typical approach of evaluating Spanish-speaking children’s speech perception, using
English targets and steady noise, is unlikely to provide a full account of functional hearing. The goal of this
proposal is to develop a clinical test for evaluating masked speech perception in English and in Spanish, in
either a complex speech or a steady noise background. The proposed work builds on the feasibility study of
Calandruccio et al. (2014b), which introduced a four-alternative, forced-choice picture-pointing threshold
estimation task that can be administered in either English or Spanish. Target words are disyllabic nouns
familiar to young children, and maskers are either speech-shaped noise or two-talker speech. The recorded
instructions and picture-pointing response means the tester need not be fluent in the test language. The four-
alternative format also accommodates assessment of children with poor speech production. Aim 1 will refine
the test materials and procedures, including optimization of threshold estimation parameters and
implementation of software for a clinical setting. Aim 2 will establish test reliability and validity across listener
age and hearing status. Threshold norms and estimates of psychometric function slopes will be obtained for 4-
to 12-year-olds, including both Spanish/English bilingual and monolingual English speakers. Performance of
children with hearing loss, including hearing aid and cochlear implant users, will be evaluated relative to
estimates of functional performance in real-life listening situations. Aim 3 will evaluate the test procedures in
seven busy pediatric audiology clinics. Test results will be compared with measures that are currently used to
evaluate Spanish- and English-speaking children (e.g., pure-tone thresholds and English-language PBK
scores), and with questionnaire data from parents regarding language proficiency and functional hearing
ability. Clinician feedback will be solicited to further improve test procedures. The research team assembled to
carry out the proposed work includes expertise in basic hearing science, auditory development, clinical
research, bilingualism, and the provision of clinical care, ensuring that the final product will be a clinical
instrument that is both rigorous and practical. The end result is expected to improve our ability to audiologically
evaluate and manage children who speak English, Spanish ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9979834
- **Project number:** 5R01DC015056-05
- **Recipient organization:** FATHER FLANAGAN'S BOYS' HOME
- **Principal Investigator:** Emily Buss
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $471,555
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-10 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9979834

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9979834, A TEST OF CHILDREN'S ENGLISH/SPANISH SPEECH PERCEPTION IN NOISE OR SPEECH MASKERS (5R01DC015056-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9979834. Licensed CC0.

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