title: Automated Speech Rate Measurement in Dysarthria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, a new algorithm for automated determination of speech rate (SR) in dysarthric speech is evaluated. We investigated how reliably the algorithm calculates the SR of dysarthric speech samples when compared with calculation performed by speech-language pathologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  The new algorithm was trained and tested using Dutch speech samples of 36 speakers with no history of speech impairment and 40 speakers with mild to moderate dysarthria. We tested the algorithm under various conditions: according to speech task type (sentence reading, passage reading, and storytelling) and algorithm optimization method (speaker group optimization and individual speaker optimization). Correlations between automated and human SR determination were calculated for each condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High correlations between automated and human SR determination were found in the various testing conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new algorithm measures SR in a sufficiently reliable manner. It is currently being integrated in a clinical software tool for assessing and managing prosody in dysarthric speech. Further research is needed to fine-tune the algorithm to severely dysarthric speech, to make the algorithm less sensitive to background noise, and to evaluate how the algorithm deals with syllabic consonants.
authors: Heidi
authors: H
authors: Martens
authors: Tomas
authors: T
authors: Dekens
authors: Gwen
authors: G
authors: Van Nuffelen
authors: Lukas
authors: L
authors: Latacz
authors: Werner
authors: W
authors: Verhelst
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: De Bodt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D011932:Reading; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D013068:Speech Production Measurement / Q000379:methods*