Impact of SpeechEasy on acoustic and motor parameters of stuttering individuals

• Grant number: 11/15184-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Cláudia Regina Furquim de Andrade
• Grantee: Ana Paula Ritto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Stuttering is characterized by involuntary speech disruptions. A few studies developed with altered auditory feedback devices (like SpeechEasy) indicate that there is a reduction in the number of speech disruptions when people who stutter use the device. However, results regarding the impact on speech naturalness are contradictory. Among the parameters of speech naturalness, phonation (duration and pause time) when altered can interfere in the general quality of speech. The purpose of this research is to acoustically verify the existence of possible variations in motor parameters (diadochokinesis, VOT and reaction time) of stuttering individuals with and without SpeechEasy.Participants of the study will be adults, of both genders, in a populational sample of at least 10 individuals. The study analysis will have as a theoretical base the DIVA model. The study hypothesis is that there will be differences in performance between the two investigated conditions, i.e. with and without altered auditory feedback. The normality of data distribution will be tested through the Komolgorov-Smirnov test. Appropriate statistical tests will be applied according to sample data distribution. The scientific relevance of the study is to verify the effect of altered auditory feedback in objective speech parameters (acoustic and motor) that can have an impact on speech naturalness when individuals use this kind of device. This study implies in the validation of this technological resource. The basic concept is the well being of clients and the safety involved in the offered procedure.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ANA PAULA RITTO; FABIOLA STARÓBOLE JUSTE; CLAUDIA REGINA FURQUIM DE ANDRADE. Impacto do uso do SpeechEasy® nos parâmetros acústicos e motores da fala de indivíduos com gagueira. Audiol., Commun. Res., v. 20, n. 1, p. 1-9, 2015-03-00. (11/15184-4)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

RITTO, Ana Paula. The effect of SpeechEasy on acoustic and motor speech parameters of adults who stutter. 2014. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina (FM/SBD) São Paulo.