The Speech Perception and Acoustics Laboratories (SPA Labs) grew from research collaboration initiated in 2001 between Dr. Robert Allen Fox, Ohio State professor of Speech and Hearing Science, and Dr. Ewa Jacewicz, a full time researcher in Speech and Hearing Science at Ohio State. One of their primary research interests is in characterizing variation in vowels as the fundamental components of human language and speech. The changes in vowel characteristics as a function of segmental and prosodic context or speaker dialect and age pose a challenge for the listener who must deal with complex interaction of factors influencing the perceptual structure of vowels. A better understanding of this type of variation will lead to improved models of vowel perception in particular and to speech perception in general.

The current research projects at SPA Labs focus on the role of vowel dynamics in cross-dialectal and cross-generational vowel changes and shifts, on auditory spectral integration and spectral center of gravity effects in the perception of vowels and diphthongs, and on acoustic variation in the relative amplitude of vowel formants. Other ongoing projects include phonetic category learning in a second language, a cognitive basis for stuttering, and normal development of fricatives in young children.

In 2005, the existing lab of Dr. Fox (SPA1) and the newly established lab of Dr. Jacewicz (SPA2) merged into one research unit SPA Labs . At present, perception studies are conducted primarily in SPA1 and acoustic studies are housed in SPA2.