<p>The ability to understand speech at increased voice rates is all about <strong>learning</strong>. A notable example in this regard is the use of text-to-speech software like <strong><a href="http://www.freedomscientific.com/Products/Blindness/JAWS" rel="nofollow">Jaws</a></strong> used by blind folks unable to read the written word. Jaws is able to convert text on screen into the spoken word using a speech generator. After people get used to read on-screen content through speech, they are often able (and happy) to increase the voice rate settings to scan over the (often cluttered) computer screens more quickly. A recommended <a href="http://www.nomensa.com/blog/2003/configuring-jaws-voice-settings" rel="nofollow">incremental step for Jaws</a> in speech rate is 5%. I have experienced the speech rates deployed by some blind folks and the resulting speech was totally unintelligible to me. </p>

<p>With regard to the learning curve you describe: I bet that after repeated exposure to higher speech rate settings you wouldn't feel the necessity to start at a slower pace. Assuming you have normal vision, you are probably not too inclined to practice this for hours, though. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-20T00:46:23.377Z
2015-08-20T02:22:01.747Z
2015-08-20T02:22:01.747Z
AliceD
<p>When I am watching a YouTube video with normal speed I can understand everything with no problem. When I speed up the video to 1.25x my understanding of what someone is saying is a bit worse, but after 1-2 minutes it is very clear again.</p>

<p>I have made an experiment in which I was increasing the video speed gradually to 2x (in ~5 minutes) and I was understanding everything very good. After some time I started the same video again, but then I switched it directly from 1x to 2x and I still could understand what someone is saying in the video, but it was worse than in gradual speed increase.</p>

<p>Why is this happening?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-19T18:36:43.277Z
Although this is an interesting question, questions referring to a personal experience are off-topic on Cogsci.SE. However, this question is quite easy to rephrase as "What is the effect of gradual increase of speech speed on speech comprehension?" and the removal of personal references.
Seanny123
<hearing><speech-comprehension>
What is the effect of gradual increase of speech speed on speech comprehension?
Krzysztof Majewski
# What is the effect of gradual increase of speech speed on speech comprehension?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-08-19)

When I am watching a YouTube video with normal speed I can understand everything with no problem. When I speed up the video to 1.25x my understanding of what someone is saying is a bit worse, but after 1-2 minutes it is very clear again.

I have made an experiment in which I was increasing the video speed gradually to 2x (in ~5 minutes) and I was understanding everything very good. After some time I started the same video again, but then I switched it directly from 1x to 2x and I still could understand what someone is saying in the video, but it was worse than in gradual speed increase.

Why is this happening?

**Tags:** hearing, speech-comprehension

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Although this is an interesting question, questions referring to a personal experience are off-topic on Cogsci.SE. However, this question is quite easy to rephrase as "What is the effect of gradual increase of speech speed on speech comprehension?" and the removal of personal references.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-08-20. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

The ability to understand speech at increased voice rates is all about **learning**. A notable example in this regard is the use of text-to-speech software like **[Jaws](http://www.freedomscientific.com/Products/Blindness/JAWS)** used by blind folks unable to read the written word. Jaws is able to convert text on screen into the spoken word using a speech generator. After people get used to read on-screen content through speech, they are often able (and happy) to increase the voice rate settings to scan over the (often cluttered) computer screens more quickly. A recommended [incremental step for Jaws](http://www.nomensa.com/blog/2003/configuring-jaws-voice-settings) in speech rate is 5%. I have experienced the speech rates deployed by some blind folks and the resulting speech was totally unintelligible to me.

With regard to the learning curve you describe: I bet that after repeated exposure to higher speech rate settings you wouldn't feel the necessity to start at a slower pace. Assuming you have normal vision, you are probably not too inclined to practice this for hours, though.


---

