Running Head: DIFFICULTIES IN AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION DIFFICULTIES IN AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION OF DYSARTHRIC SPEAKERS AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR SPEECH-BASED APPLICATIONS USED BY THE ELDERLY: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Automatic speech recognition is being used in a variety of assistive contexts, including home computer systems, mobile telephones, and various public and private telephony services. Despite their growing presence, commercial speech recognition technologies are still not easily employed by individuals who have speech or communication disorders. While speech disorders in older adults are common, there has been relatively little research on automatic speech recognition performance with older adults. However, research findings suggest that the speech characteristics of the older adult may, in some ways, be similar to dysarthric speech. Dysarthria, a common neuro-motor speech disorder, is particularly useful for exploring automatic speech recognition performance limitations because of its wide range of speech expression. This paper presents a review of the clinical research literature examining the use of commercially available speech-to-text automatic speech recognition technology by individuals with dysarthria. The main factors that limit automatic speech recognition performance with dysarthric speakers are highlighted and then extended to the elderly using a specific example of a novel, automated, speech-based personal emergency response system for older adults.