Effect of Speaking Rate on Recognition of Synthetic and Natural Speech by Normal-Hearing and Cochlear Implant Listeners

Abstract

CI listeners are susceptible to variability in speech patterns caused by speaking rate and production style (natural versus synthetic). CI performance with clear speech materials may overestimate performance in real-world listening conditions. The poorer CI performance may be because of other factors besides reduced spectro-temporal resolution, such the quality of electric stimulation, duration of deafness, or cortical processing. Optimizing the input or training may improve CI users' tolerance for variability in speech patterns.