Page 1 of 51
COMD 5070 EXAM 1(LATEST 2025 UPDATE)
ACOUSTICS OF SPEECH AND HEARING | QUESTIONS
AND VERIFIED ANSWERS | 100% CORRECT | GRADE
A - UTAH
Scientific Method .....ANSWER.....empirical, deterministic,
predictive, parsimonious
empirical .....ANSWER.....based on data
deterministic .....ANSWER.....obeys physical laws
predictive .....ANSWER.....If you do this, then this will happen
parsiminious .....ANSWER.....uses the simplest explanation possible
why use technology? .....ANSWER.....overcome listener bias,
describe severity objectively, track progress over time, ASHA's
focus on evidence-based practice, provide biofeedback to
patient
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how to overcome listener bias? .....ANSWER.....consistent, reliable
measurements
how to track progress over time? .....ANSWER.....demonstrate
treatment efficacy
biofeedback example .....ANSWER.....vizipitch- allows client to
view intonation patterns on a screen so they can see & monitor
their own progress
things clinicians can do that technology can't
.....ANSWER.....understand the numbers, examine qualitatively
and quantitatively, judgments/ interpreting data
why understand technology? .....ANSWER.....SLP needs to know
normal & disordered physiology; can only provide rational
treatment if data is understood; need to know what numbers
from instruments represent; provide expert interpretation
3 key arenas of Speech Science .....ANSWER.....acoustic
phonetics, physiologic phonetics, speech perception
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physiologic phonetics .....ANSWER.....kinematics, aerodynamics,
electromyography
frequency .....ANSWER.....how often a waveform repeats;
measured in Hz
simplest sounds .....ANSWER.....pure tones
complex tones .....ANSWER.....have more than 1 sine wave (more
than 1 sound being produced together, & they blend); have
many frequencies; F0 = strongest; perceived pitch follows
fundamental; human voice has F0 and harmonics; auditory system
responds to all frequencies
pitch perception .....ANSWER.....linked to frequency; order on a
musical scale; subjective perception; can't be measured w/
instruments; listener matches perceived pitch to that of a pure
tone of a known frequency
Frequency Difference Limens (DL) .....ANSWER.....smallest
detectable change in frequency; DLs increase w/ stimulus
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frequency; high frequency sounds must differ more to be heard
as different in pitch; as intensity increases, DLs become larger
Intensity of speech .....ANSWER.....measured in dB SPL
dB SPL = .....ANSWER.....20 (log10 PO/PR)
periodic relationship .....ANSWER.....if frequencies in a complex
tone are in a mathematical relationship to one another such that
the harmonics are multiples of the fundamental; if not periodic,
sounds jarring/ discordant
missing fundamental .....ANSWER.....listen to a harmonic series;
actual fundamental can be absent; timbre/ quality is different;
pitch is still perceived as the same; brain processes harmonic
structure & fills gap by calculation/ interpolation; cheap audio
equipment- stimulated bass; AKA "residue pitch"
pitch perception in music .....ANSWER.....A or B sounds equivalent
up or down; some note pairs blend harmoniously, some are
dissonant; harmonic frequencies match or don't
COMD 5070 EXAM 1(LATEST 2025 UPDATE)
ACOUSTICS OF SPEECH AND HEARING | QUESTIONS
AND VERIFIED ANSWERS | 100% CORRECT | GRADE
A - UTAH
Scientific Method .....ANSWER.....empirical, deterministic,
predictive, parsimonious
empirical .....ANSWER.....based on data
deterministic .....ANSWER.....obeys physical laws
predictive .....ANSWER.....If you do this, then this will happen
parsiminious .....ANSWER.....uses the simplest explanation possible
why use technology? .....ANSWER.....overcome listener bias,
describe severity objectively, track progress over time, ASHA's
focus on evidence-based practice, provide biofeedback to
patient
,Page 2 of 51
how to overcome listener bias? .....ANSWER.....consistent, reliable
measurements
how to track progress over time? .....ANSWER.....demonstrate
treatment efficacy
biofeedback example .....ANSWER.....vizipitch- allows client to
view intonation patterns on a screen so they can see & monitor
their own progress
things clinicians can do that technology can't
.....ANSWER.....understand the numbers, examine qualitatively
and quantitatively, judgments/ interpreting data
why understand technology? .....ANSWER.....SLP needs to know
normal & disordered physiology; can only provide rational
treatment if data is understood; need to know what numbers
from instruments represent; provide expert interpretation
3 key arenas of Speech Science .....ANSWER.....acoustic
phonetics, physiologic phonetics, speech perception
,Page 3 of 51
physiologic phonetics .....ANSWER.....kinematics, aerodynamics,
electromyography
frequency .....ANSWER.....how often a waveform repeats;
measured in Hz
simplest sounds .....ANSWER.....pure tones
complex tones .....ANSWER.....have more than 1 sine wave (more
than 1 sound being produced together, & they blend); have
many frequencies; F0 = strongest; perceived pitch follows
fundamental; human voice has F0 and harmonics; auditory system
responds to all frequencies
pitch perception .....ANSWER.....linked to frequency; order on a
musical scale; subjective perception; can't be measured w/
instruments; listener matches perceived pitch to that of a pure
tone of a known frequency
Frequency Difference Limens (DL) .....ANSWER.....smallest
detectable change in frequency; DLs increase w/ stimulus
, Page 4 of 51
frequency; high frequency sounds must differ more to be heard
as different in pitch; as intensity increases, DLs become larger
Intensity of speech .....ANSWER.....measured in dB SPL
dB SPL = .....ANSWER.....20 (log10 PO/PR)
periodic relationship .....ANSWER.....if frequencies in a complex
tone are in a mathematical relationship to one another such that
the harmonics are multiples of the fundamental; if not periodic,
sounds jarring/ discordant
missing fundamental .....ANSWER.....listen to a harmonic series;
actual fundamental can be absent; timbre/ quality is different;
pitch is still perceived as the same; brain processes harmonic
structure & fills gap by calculation/ interpolation; cheap audio
equipment- stimulated bass; AKA "residue pitch"
pitch perception in music .....ANSWER.....A or B sounds equivalent
up or down; some note pairs blend harmoniously, some are
dissonant; harmonic frequencies match or don't
