EFFECTS OF AAC STRATEGIES ON DYSARTHRIC SPEECH

描述（由申请人提供）：可理解性是一个多方面的结构，受无数变量的影响，如听者的语言语境知识，以及说话者产生的声音信号。然而，对于听者相关和说话者相关变量对可理解性的不同影响，以及这些变量在多大程度上可以被利用来提高慢性构音障碍说话者的可理解性，很少有系统的研究。本研究的长期目标是了解不同严重程度的慢性构音障碍患者的说话者相关变量和听者相关变量对语音清晰度的独立和互动贡献。干预策略，字母表补充（AS），其中有构音障碍的说话者指着每个单词的第一个字母，同时说话，是目前的研究特别感兴趣的。初步研究表明，AS有可能显著提高诵读困难言语的可理解性；然而;可理解性提高的原因尚不清楚。假设说话者相关的生产变化和提供给听者的语言知识都起作用。两个相关的研究将调查这些变量的影响。研究1将通过对语义可预测性的操纵和实验强加的字母提示来检验内在和外在听者知识对习惯性诵读困难言语可理解性的影响。研究2将通过分析习惯性言语和实施AS时产生的言语之间的频谱和时间声学差异，来检验与AS实施相关的说话人产生变化的影响。在这两项研究中，16名继发于脑瘫的构音障碍患者将作为演讲者，256名非残疾人将作为听众。听者将用正字法抄录讲话者使用习惯语言和使用字母补充的录像带。可理解性数据和声学数据将进行方差分析，以回答研究问题。拟议的研究将在理论框架内收集有关AS作为干预策略的临床相关疗效数据。这些研究的结果将提供关键的临床信息以及重要的理论信息，这些信息将开始量化构音障碍中言语可理解性的贡献者。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Intelligibility is a multifaceted construct that is influenced by a myriad of variables such as linguistic-contextual knowledge of the listener, as well as the acoustic signal produced by the speaker. However, there has been little systematic investigation of the differential effects of listener-related and speaker-related variables on intelligibility or the extent to which these variables can be exploited to enhance intelligibility for speakers with chronic dysarthria. The long-term goal of this research is to understand the independent and interactive contributions of speaker-related and listener-related variables to speech intelligibility in individuals with chronic dysarthria of varying severity. The intervention strategy, alphabet supplementation (AS), in which speakers with dysarthria point to the first letter of each word while simultaneously speaking, is of particular interest in the present research. Preliminary studies suggest that AS has the potential to significantly enhance intelligibility of dysarthric speech; however; the reasons why intelligibility is improved are unknown. It is hypothesized that both speaker-related production changes and linguistic knowledge provided to listeners play a role. Two related studies will investigate the effects of these variables. Study 1 will examine the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic listener knowledge on intelligibility of habitual dysarthric speech through manipulation of semantic predictability and experimentally imposed alphabet cues. Study 2 will examine the effects of speaker-related production changes associated with implementation of AS through analysis of spectral and temporal acoustic differences between habitual speech and speech produced while implementing AS. Across both studies, 16 individuals with dysarthria secondary to cerebral palsy will serve as speakers and 256 non-disabled individuals will serve as listeners. Listeners will orthographically transcribe videotapes of speakers using habitual speech and using alphabet supplementation. Intelligibility data and acoustic data will be subjected to analysis of variance to answer research questions. The proposed studies will gather clinically-relevant efficacy data regarding AS as an intervention strategy within a theoretical framework. Outcomes of these studies will provide critical clinical information as well as important theoretical information that will begin to quantify contributors to speech intelligibility in dysarthria.