Auditory Perceptual Judgement and Acoustical Study of Liquid Sounds in Children Aged 4~6 Years According to Clinical Experience

Purpose: This study examines whether there are differences in the auditory perceptual evaluation of speech produced by children according to the listener’s clinical experience and seeks to find acoustic correlates. Methods: Fifteen speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and 15 students listened to Korean liquids produced by children aged 4 to 6 years and assessed them using a 5-point Likert scale. The relationship between auditory perceptual evaluation and acoustic variables was analyzed. Results: First, there is a difference in auditory perception scores between laterals and flaps at different ages within 4 to 6 years, and there is a difference in auditory perception scores depending on the vowel environment. Second, the SLP group’s auditory-perceptual evaluation was consistent with the child’s general laterals and flaps development pattern, while the student group’s auditory-perceptual evaluation differed from the laterals and flaps development. Third, in the regression analysis, a higher spectral slope was associated with higher auditory perceptual evaluation in the SLP’s data. Conclusion: It was confirmed that clinical experience plays a quite important role in auditory perceptual evaluation. However, various follow-up studies are needed to enhance the accuracy of these evaluations.