The effect of SpeechEasy on acoustic and motor speech parameters of adults who stutter

Author(s)

Ana Paula Ritto

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina (FM/SBD)
• Defense date: 2014-03-12

Examining board members

Claudia Regina Furquim de Andrade; Fabiola Staróbole Juste; Claudia Fassin Arcuri Yasuda

• Advisor: Claudia Regina Furquim de Andrade

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In order to understand the possible effects of the use of altered auditory feedback (AAF) devices on speech, especially with regard to neuromotor skills and speech naturalness, the purpose of this study was to use acoustic analysis to investigate possible changes on speech motor skills with the use of SpeechEasy, in adults who stutter and fluents. METHODS: Participants for this study were 20 adults, 10 with stuttering (9 males and 1 female - mean age 30.9 years) and 10 fluent controls (9 males and 1 female - mean age 25.2 years). The study compared the performance of participants in four tasks: spontaneous speech, alternate motion diadochokinesis, sequential motion diadochokinesis and utterance of a target sentence, in two different situations: one without and one with the device. The aspects acoustically analyzed were: (1) for diadochokinesis tasks: syllable duration, syllable periods, peak intensity and diadochokinesis rate, (2) for target sentence task: reaction time, VOT duration, total duration, fundamental frequency and intensity, in each of the tested conditions. RESULTS: Between group comparisons indicated significant differences only when considering the spontaneous speech testing condition (p < 0.001). For the group of stutterers, within group comparisons (i.e. without versus with device) also indicated significant differences only for the spontaneous speech task. In this task, the use of AAF device resulted in a significant improvement of speech fluency, as measured by the percentage of stuttered syllables (p=0.014). On the other hand, for the control group, the device produced the opposite effect (i.e. a significant increase in the percentage of stuttered syllables - p=0.046). Statistical analysis of the acoustic aspects of both diadochokinesis and the target sentence indicated no significant difference for between and within group comparisions. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that for the group of stutterers the use of SpeechEasy device caused an improvement in speech fluency without interfering in speech naturalness (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/15184-4 - Impact of SpeechEasy on acoustic and motor parameters of stuttering individuals
• Grantee: Ana Paula Ritto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master