Analysis of articulatory dynamics in esophageal speakers and its application for speech rehabilitation

为了阐明食道语使用者的发音特征，对熟练和非熟练食道语使用者的语音辨别测试进行了研究。研究发现，无声停顿的辨别分数很低，甚至在有技能的受试者中也是如此。为了分析食道说话者的关节动力学，每个受试者都获得了一个腭部模型，并制作了人工腭部以进行腭电描记。在正常受试者中也采取了同样的程序来获得对照数据样本。食道说话者的腭电数据显示，与正常受试者相比，摩擦音的舌腭部接触面积明显缩小。研究还发现，食道说话者在发出清音时的口腔内压力往往更高。这些结果表明，食道说话者存在一种特殊的发音调整，以在少量空气供应的情况下有效地产生某种辅音。结论：食道说话者康复过程中的发音训练必须采用这种发音调整方式。

In order to elucidate the articulatory characteristics of esophageal speakers, speech discrimination tests were performed on the recorded samples of skilled and unskilled esophageal speakers. It was found that the discrimination score was low for voiceless stops or fircative /h/ even in skilled subjects. For the analysis of articulatory dynamics of esophageal speakers, a palatal mold was obtained and artificial palate was prepared for electropalatograhy for each subject. The same procedure was also taken in normal subjects to obtain control data samples. Electropalatographic data in esophageal speakers indicated that the area of linguo-palatal contact for fricatives was significantly narrower compared with normal subjects. It was also found that intra-oral pressure during the production of voiceless sounds tended to be higher in esophageal speakers. These results suggested that there was a special articulatory adjustment in esophageal speakers to produce some type of consonants effectively with small amount of air supply. It was concluded that this type of articulatory adjustment must be adopted for the articulatory training for esophageal speakers during the course of rehabilitaion.