Conference_programme: 18.1 - Effect of room acoustics and noise on speech intelligibility and task performance in schools

Lecture: SPEECH PERCEPTION IN NOISE BY YOUNG SEQUENTIAL BILINGUAL CHILDREN

Author(s): Bovo Roberto, Lovo Elisa, Montino Silvia, Gheller Flavia

Summary:
Objective: To ascertain the effects of competitive noise on the second language perception skills of sequentially bilingual children and to compare the results with those relating to matched monolingual peers.\nStudy design: A case-control study.\nMaterials and methods: 15 bilingual children (aged 6-10years) (BL) learning through their second language (L2), which was Italian, were matched with 15 peers Italian only speaking (IO). BL were exposed to L2 after their 4th year of life. The speech-to-noise ratio (SNR) needed to obtain a 50% intelligibility for Italian words was measured against Italian version of ICRA noise, using an adaptive method. Moreover, a presentation of phrases against a contra-lateral continuous discourse was carried out to exclude differences in memory and attention. \nResults: The SNR was -2.7dB (SD1.7;range:-5.5/+0.9) for the BL group and - 5.3 dB (SD2.3;range:-8.8/-0.9) for the IO group (p<0.01). \nWith contra-lateral continuous discourse masking the SNR was -32.8 dB (SD2.4;range:- 36.1/-28.2) for the BL group and -27.8 dB (SD2.1;range:-31.7/-24.1) for the OI group (p<0.01). \nConclusion: Even sequential bilingual individuals exposed to L2 at 4 years old had a worse speech perception in noise than their matched IO peers. On the other hand, BL group demonstrated superior divided attention skills.\n

Corresponding author

Name: Prof Roberto Bovo

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Country: Italy