Apparatus for enhancing phoneme differences according to acoustic processing profile for language learning impaired subject
US6289310A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 7, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 11, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 7, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10L2021/065
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for screening an individual's ability to process acoustic events is provided. The invention provides sequences (or trials) of acoustically processed target and distractor phonemes to a subject for identification. The acoustic processing includes amplitude emphasis of selected frequency envelopes, stretching (in the time domain) of selected portions of phonemes, and phase adjustment of selection portions of phonemes relative to a base frequency. After a number of trials, the method of the present invention develops a profile for an individual that indicates whether the individual's ability to process acoustic events is within a normal range, and if not, what processing can provide the individual with optimal hearing. The individual's profile can then be used by a listening or processing device to particularly emphasize, stretch, or otherwise manipulate an audio stream to provide the individual with an optimal chance of distinguishing between similar acoustic events.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.