Tone production and perception and intelligibility of produced speech in Mandarin-speaking cochlear implanted children

<p><i>Objective</i>: This study explored tone production, tone perception and intelligibility of produced speech in Mandarin-speaking prelingually deaf children with at least 5 years of cochlear implant (CI) experience. Another focus was on the predictive value of tone perception and tone production as they relate to speech intelligibility. <i>Design</i>: Cross-sectional research. <i>Study sample</i>: Thirty-three prelingually deafened children aged over eight years with over five years of experience with CI underwent tests for tone perception, tone production, and the Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR). A Pearson correlation and a stepwise regression analysis were used to estimate the correlations among tone perception, tone production, and SIR scores. <i>Results</i>: The mean scores for tone perception, tone production, and SIR were 76.88%, 90.08%, and 4.08, respectively. Moderately positive Pearson correlations were found between tone perception and production, tone production and SIR, and tone perception and SIR (<i>p</i> < 0.01, <i>p</i> < 0.01 and <i>p</i> < 0.01, respectively). In the stepwise regression analysis, tone production, as the major predictor, accounted for 29% of the variations in the SIR (<i>p</i> < 0.01). <i>Conclusions</i>: Mandarin-speaking cochlear-implanted children with sufficient duration of CI use produce intelligent speech. Speech intelligibility can be predicted by tone production performance.</p

The association between tea drinking and risk of head and neck cancer stratified by the use of alcohol, betel quid, or cigarette.

<p>Abbreviations: CI  =  confidence interval; OR  =  odds ratio</p>a.<p>OR and 95% CI were calculated using unconditional logistic regression, adjusted for sex, age, education, cigarette smoking (pack-year categories), betel quid chewing (pack-year categories), and alcohol drinking (frequency)</p>b.<p>For never and occasional tea drinkers, the cup of tea per day  =  0 and the cup-year of tea = 0.</p>c.<p>1 cup-year  =  1 cup of tea per day ×1 year</p>d.<p>Years of consumption was cut off at the median</p>e.<p>Tests for interaction were performed using only two strata (Never and former+current).</p

The stage, tumor grade, and mean age of diagnosis of HNC according to tea drinking status.

<p>Abbreviations: SE standard error</p>a.<p>P-values were calculated using chi-squared tests (for categorical variables) or T-tests (for continuous variables).</p

Demographic and lifestyle characteristics of the head and neck cancer patients and control subjects.

<p>Abbreviations: N  =  number; SE  = standard error.</p>a.<p>P-values were calculated using chi-squared tests (for categorical variables) or T-tests (for continuous variables).</p

Tea consumption and head and neck cancer risk, overall and by sites.

<p>Abbreviations: CI  =  confidence interval; N  =  number; OR  =  odds ratio.</p>a.<p>OR and 95% CI were calculated using unconditional logistic regression, adjusted for sex, age, education, cigarette smoking (pack-year categories), betel quid chewing (pack-year categories), and alcohol drinking (frequency).</p>b.<p>For never and occasional tea drinkers, the cup of tea per day  =  0, the year of tea drinking = 0, and the cup-year of tea drinking = 0.</p>c.<p>1 cup-year  =  1 cup of tea per day ×1 year.</p