Interference of enunciation extension in speech intelligibility in dysarthric patients severe

• Grant number: 12/19999-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2012
• End date: October 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Karin Zazo Ortiz
• Grantee: Daniele Oliveira Gabos
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa. Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The reduction of intelligibility is a major manifestation found in dysarthric speakers. When words or sentences are used in the evaluation of the intelligibility different scores for the same speaker are frequently provided. Some of this variation is due to the effect of semantic predictability of sentences. However little is known about the effect of the extension of the statement on the intelligibility of words. In order to examine whether the intelligibility of words produced by severe dysarthric speakers is influenced by the length of utterances, a cross-sectional study will be conducted. Two groups of subjects will participate in this study. The first group, consisting of ten dysarthric speakers will be asked to repeat two lists of stimuli, which will be recorded on audio. These speech samples will be transcribed by the second group, composed of 40 healthy adults. The words and sentences subtests from the Protocol for the Evaluation of Speech Intelligibility in the dysarthrias (Barreto, Ortiz, 2010) will be used as speech material. The speakers with a severe impairment will be submitted for recording the original list of sentences subtest and a list of less predictable target words from these sentences. Original sound files will be edited so that in the recorded sample from the list of sentences only target words will be kept. Transcribed stimuli will be considered correct when phonemic correspondence is observed between orthographic transcription and the expected production of target stimuli by speakers. Intelligibility scores will be given by the percentage of words correctly transcribed from each sample.(AU)