Description:

TITLE: Exploring Network Diversity and Its Impact on Speech Perception Across Lifespan, Communities, and Models

Abstract: Exposure to variability plays a central role in shaping speech perception theories and methodologies. Yet, measuring listeners’ exposure to diversity in everyday life remains complex, as it varies widely across individuals’ social networks and life experiences. In this talk, I present findings from multiple studies examining how social network diversity impacts speech perception across the lifespan, from children to young and older adults, and different linguistic communities. I will also discuss ongoing research that trains a computational model with varied input regimens, providing a window into how exposure to diverse accents enhances model performance. Together, these studies highlight the foundational role of diversity in fostering adaptive speech perception.