Short-term adaptation to accented English by younger and older adults

Abstract

This study examined the effects of age and hearing loss on short-term adaptation to accented speech. Data from younger and older listeners in a prior investigation [Gordon-Salant et al. (2010). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 128, 444-455] were re-analyzed to examine changes in recognition over four administrations of equivalent lists of English stimuli recorded by native speakers of Spanish and English. Results showed improvement in recognition scores over four list administrations for the accented stimuli but not for the native English stimuli. Group effects emerged but were not involved in any interactions, suggesting that short-term adaptation to accented speech is preserved with aging and with hearing loss.

Figures

Figure 1

Percent correct recognition of words and sentences (collapsed) for the Spanish-accented speaker, by three listener groups (YNH=Young Normal Hearing, ONH=Older Normal Hearing, OHI=Older Hearing-Impaired). Error bars reflect one standard error of the mean.

Figure 2

Percent correct recognition for the first half (items 1–20) vs. second half (items 21–40) of the first list administered for the Spanish-accented speaker, by the three listener groups. Error bars reflect one standard error of the mean.