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Kalashnikova M, Singh L, Tsui A, Altuntas E, Burnham D, Cannistraci R, Chin NB, Feng Y, Fernández-Merino L, Götz A, Gustavsson L, Hay J, Höhle B, Kager R, Lai R, Liu L, Marklund E, Nazzi T, Oliveira DS, Olstad AMH, Picaud A, Schwarz IC, Tsao FM, Wong PCM, Woo PJ. The development of tone discrimination in infancy: Evidence from a cross-linguistic, multi-lab report. Dev Sci 2024; 27:e13459. [PMID: 37987377 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
We report the findings of a multi-language and multi-lab investigation of young infants' ability to discriminate lexical tones as a function of their native language, age and language experience, as well as of tone properties. Given the high prevalence of lexical tones across human languages, understanding lexical tone acquisition is fundamental for comprehensive theories of language learning. While there are some similarities between the developmental course of lexical tone perception and that of vowels and consonants, findings for lexical tones tend to vary greatly across different laboratories. To reconcile these differences and to assess the developmental trajectory of native and non-native perception of tone contrasts, this study employed a single experimental paradigm with the same two pairs of Cantonese tone contrasts (perceptually similar vs. distinct) across 13 laboratories in Asia-Pacific, Europe and North-America testing 5-, 10- and 17-month-old monolingual (tone, pitch-accent, non-tone) and bilingual (tone/non-tone, non-tone/non-tone) infants. Across the age range and language backgrounds, infants who were not exposed to Cantonese showed robust discrimination of the two non-native lexical tone contrasts. Contrary to this overall finding, the statistical model assessing native discrimination by Cantonese-learning infants failed to yield significant effects. These findings indicate that lexical tone sensitivity is maintained from 5 to 17 months in infants acquiring tone and non-tone languages, challenging the generalisability of the existing theoretical accounts of perceptual narrowing in the first months of life. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: This is a multi-language and multi-lab investigation of young infants' ability to discriminate lexical tones. This study included data from 13 laboratories testing 5-, 10-, and 17-month-old monolingual (tone, pitch-accent, non-tone) and bilingual (tone/non-tone, non-tone/non-tone) infants. Overall, infants discriminated a perceptually similar and a distinct non-native tone contrast, although there was no evidence of a native tone-language advantage in discrimination. These results demonstrate maintenance of tone discrimination throughout development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Kalashnikova
- Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language, San Sebastian, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Leher Singh
- Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Eylem Altuntas
- MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | - Denis Burnham
- MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | - Ryan Cannistraci
- Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Psychology, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ng Bee Chin
- Linguistics and Multilingual Studies, School of Humanities, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ye Feng
- Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Linguistics, Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing, China
| | - Laura Fernández-Merino
- Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language, San Sebastian, Spain
- University of Basque Country, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Antonia Götz
- MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
- Linguistics Department, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Lisa Gustavsson
- Department of Linguistics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jessica Hay
- Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Barbara Höhle
- Linguistics Department, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - René Kager
- Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Institute for Language Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Regine Lai
- Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Liquan Liu
- MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
- School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
- Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language, Australian Research Council, Canberra, Australia
- Center of Multilingualism across the Lifespan, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ellen Marklund
- Department of Linguistics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thierry Nazzi
- INCC, CNRS Paris, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Anthony Picaud
- INCC, CNRS Paris, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Iris-Corinna Schwarz
- Department of Linguistics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Special Education, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Feng-Ming Tsao
- Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Imaging Center for Integrated Body, Mind and Culture Research, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Patrick C M Wong
- Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Pei Jun Woo
- Department of Psychology, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
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Ghasemzadeh H, Hillman RE, Mehta DD. Toward Generalizable Machine Learning Models in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences: Estimating Sample Size and Reducing Overfitting. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2024; 67:753-781. [PMID: 38386017 PMCID: PMC11005022 DOI: 10.1044/2023_jslhr-23-00273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Many studies using machine learning (ML) in speech, language, and hearing sciences rely upon cross-validations with single data splitting. This study's first purpose is to provide quantitative evidence that would incentivize researchers to instead use the more robust data splitting method of nested k-fold cross-validation. The second purpose is to present methods and MATLAB code to perform power analysis for ML-based analysis during the design of a study. METHOD First, the significant impact of different cross-validations on ML outcomes was demonstrated using real-world clinical data. Then, Monte Carlo simulations were used to quantify the interactions among the employed cross-validation method, the discriminative power of features, the dimensionality of the feature space, the dimensionality of the model, and the sample size. Four different cross-validation methods (single holdout, 10-fold, train-validation-test, and nested 10-fold) were compared based on the statistical power and confidence of the resulting ML models. Distributions of the null and alternative hypotheses were used to determine the minimum required sample size for obtaining a statistically significant outcome (5% significance) with 80% power. Statistical confidence of the model was defined as the probability of correct features being selected for inclusion in the final model. RESULTS ML models generated based on the single holdout method had very low statistical power and confidence, leading to overestimation of classification accuracy. Conversely, the nested 10-fold cross-validation method resulted in the highest statistical confidence and power while also providing an unbiased estimate of accuracy. The required sample size using the single holdout method could be 50% higher than what would be needed if nested k-fold cross-validation were used. Statistical confidence in the model based on nested k-fold cross-validation was as much as four times higher than the confidence obtained with the single holdout-based model. A computational model, MATLAB code, and lookup tables are provided to assist researchers with estimating the minimum sample size needed during study design. CONCLUSION The adoption of nested k-fold cross-validation is critical for unbiased and robust ML studies in the speech, language, and hearing sciences. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25237045.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamzeh Ghasemzadeh
- Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Michigan State University, East Lansing
| | - Robert E. Hillman
- Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA
| | - Daryush D. Mehta
- Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA
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Yuan D, Ng IHY, Feng G, Chang WT, Tong MCF, Young NM, Wong PCM. The Extent of Hearing Input Affects the Plasticity of the Auditory Cortex in Children With Hearing Loss: A Preliminary Study. Am J Audiol 2023; 32:379-390. [PMID: 37080240 DOI: 10.1044/2023_aja-22-00172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study investigated to what extent residual hearing and rehabilitation options (e.g., hearing aids [HAs]) affect the auditory cortex in children with hearing loss. METHOD Twenty-one children with bilateral congenital sensorineural hearing loss who were candidates for cochlear implantation were recruited. Voxel-based morphometry analysis was conducted to assess the gray matter (GM) volume in the auditory cortex. Children's residual hearing was measured by pure-tone audiometry at different frequencies. Multiple linear regression models were conducted to examine the effects of residual hearing and the use of HAs on GM volume in the auditory cortex with the control of age and gender. RESULTS Children with more residual hearing at high frequencies had larger GM volume ratio (corrected by total intracranial volume) in the left Heschl's gyrus (r = -.545, p = .013). An interaction effect between residual hearing and the use of HAs suggested that the effect of residual hearing on GM ratio was moderated by the use of HAs (β = -.791, p = .020). Compared with children with less residual hearing, children who had more residual hearing benefited more from longer use of HAs in terms of a larger GM ratio. CONCLUSIONS Our preliminary findings highlight the impact of residual hearing on the neuroanatomy of the auditory cortex in children with hearing loss. Moreover, our results call for more auditory input via HAs for children with more residual hearing to preserve the auditory cortex before cochlear implantation. For children with less residual hearing who might receive limited benefit from HAs, an early cochlear implant would be necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Yuan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Iris H-Y Ng
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Gangyi Feng
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
- Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Wai Tsz Chang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Michael C F Tong
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Nancy M Young
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, IL
| | - Patrick C M Wong
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
- Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
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Novitskiy N, Chan PHY, Chan M, Lai CM, Leung TY, Leung TF, Bornstein MH, Lam HS, Wong PCM. Deficits in neural encoding of speech in preterm infants. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2023; 61:101259. [PMID: 37257249 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Preterm children show developmental cognitive and language deficits that can be subtle and sometimes undetectable until later in life. Studies of brain development in children who are born preterm have largely focused on vascular and gross anatomical characteristics rather than pathophysiological processes that may contribute to these developmental deficits. Neural encoding of speech as reflected in EEG recordings is predictive of future language development and could provide insights into those pathophysiological processes. We recorded EEG from 45 preterm (≤ 34 weeks of gestation) and 45 term (≥ 38 weeks) Chinese-learning infants 0-12 months of (corrected) age during natural sleep. Each child listened to three speech stimuli that differed in lexically meaningful pitch (2 native and 1 non-native speech categories). EEG measures associated with synchronization and gross power of the frequency following response (FFR) were examined. ANCOVAs revealed no main effect of stimulus nativeness but main effects of age, consistent with earlier studies. A main effect of prematurity also emerged, with synchronization measures showing stronger group differences than power. By detailing differences in FFR measures related to synchronization and power, this study brings us closer to identifying the pathophysiological pathway to often subtle language problems experienced by preterm children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolay Novitskiy
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Peggy H Y Chan
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mavis Chan
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chin Man Lai
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tak Yeung Leung
- Department of Obsterics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ting Fan Leung
- Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Marc H Bornstein
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, USA; UNICEF, USA; Institute for Fiscal Studies, UK
| | - Hugh S Lam
- Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Patrick C M Wong
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Maggu AR. Auditory Evoked Potentials in Communication Disorders: An Overview of Past, Present, and Future. Semin Hear 2022; 43:137-148. [PMID: 36313051 PMCID: PMC9605805 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1756160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
This article provides a brief overview of auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) and their application in the areas of research and clinics within the field of communication disorders. The article begins with providing a historical perspective within the context of the key scientific developments that led to the emergence of numerous types of AEPs. Furthermore, the article discusses the different AEP techniques in the light of their feasibility in clinics. As AEPs, because of their versatility, find their use across disciplines, this article also discusses some of the research questions that are currently being addressed using AEP techniques in the field of communication disorders and beyond. At the end, this article summarizes the shortcomings of the existing AEP techniques and provides a general perspective toward the future directions. The article is aimed at a broad readership including (but not limited to) students, clinicians, and researchers. Overall, this article may act as a brief primer for the new AEP users, and as an overview of the progress in the field of AEPs along with future directions, for those who already use AEPs on a routine basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshay R. Maggu
- Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York
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