# Utterance-Level Methods for Identifying Reliable ASR-Output for Child Speech

Source: [Utterance-Level Methods for Identifying Reliable ASR-Output for Child Speech](<https://www.sota2.com/research/paper/69e9a76455a3c32af89f6ec2>)

Collection index: [llms.txt](<https://www.sota2.com/research/llms.txt>)

Data updated: 2026-04-24T05:00:04.605Z

Authors: Gus Lathouwers, Lingyun Gao, Catia Cucchiarini, Helmer Strik

Published: 2026-04-10T18:03:49.000Z

## Abstract

Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) is increasingly used in applications involving child speech, such as language learning and literacy acquisition. However, the effectiveness of such applications is limited by high ASR error rates. The negative effects can be mitigated by identifying in advance which ASR-outputs are reliable. This work aims to develop two novel approaches for selecting reliable ASR-output at the utterance level, one for selecting reliable read speech and one for dialogue speech material. Evaluations were done on an English and a Dutch dataset, each with a baseline and finetuned model. The results show that utterance-level selection methods for identifying reliably transcribed speech recordings have high precision for the best strategy (P \> 97.4) for both read speech and dialogue material, for both languages. Using the current optimal strategy allows 21.0% to 55.9% of dialogue/read speech datasets to be automatically selected with low (UER of \< 2.6) error rates.

## Recorded benchmark results

A research result applies to its stated dataset, split, metric and evaluation configuration. Compare like-for-like settings, preserve the metric's unit and direction, and distinguish paper-reported results from independent reproduction. The best result recorded here is not a claim of exhaustive, current global coverage.

- [ASR Reliability Selection on JASMIN Dutch Read Material](<https://www.sota2.com/research/sota/asr-reliability-selection-on-jasmin-dutch-read-material.md>): ASR reliability selection; JASMIN Dutch Read Material; Precision: 98.3.

- [ASR Reliability Selection on CSLU English (Read Material)](<https://www.sota2.com/research/sota/asr-reliability-selection-on-cslu-english-read-material.md>): ASR reliability selection; CSLU English (Read Material); Precision: 98.4.

- [ASR reliability selection on JASMIN Dutch Dialogue Material](<https://www.sota2.com/research/sota/asr-reliability-selection-on-jasmin-dutch-dialogue-material.md>): ASR reliability selection; JASMIN Dutch Dialogue Material; Precision: 97.4.

- [ASR reliability selection on CSLU English Dialogue Material](<https://www.sota2.com/research/sota/asr-reliability-selection-on-cslu-english-dialogue-material.md>): ASR reliability selection; CSLU English Dialogue Material; Precision: 98.

## Original sources and implementation

[Original paper](<https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.19801>)

[PDF](<https://arxiv.org/pdf/2604.19801.pdf>)