Computer-based Speech Practice for Dysarthria: A Preliminary Investigation

描述（由申请人提供）：构音障碍是一种常见的运动性语言障碍，发生在获得性神经系统疾病（如中风和创伤性脑损伤（TBI））之后。构音障碍是残疾的一个主要原因，因为它导致沟通困难，并对就业和重新融入家庭和社区构成重大障碍。患有构音障碍的个体需要随着时间的推移进行广泛的言语练习，以便进行运动学习以提高他们的沟通能力。然而，有有限的财政支持的言语治疗，为构音障碍的个人提供广泛的言语练习机会，需要重新获得功能性的语言，在工作，家庭和社区环境的生产性参与。因此，至关重要的是，更有效的方法被开发出来，以支持和补充有限的言语治疗服务与构音障碍的个人接受。本研究进一步的使命的NCMRR/NICHD，以提高残疾人的独立性和福祉，通过康复开发一种新的方法，使用补充语音识别（SSR）程序的发音障碍的语音练习。SSR是由研究小组开发的，它利用语音识别技术作为辅助写作程序，可以处理严重构音障碍的语音。本研究将提供初步的数据，以支持未来发展的SSR到一个计算机化的语音练习系统。目标1将集中于发展技术能力，以声学操纵构音障碍的语音样本，提供一个实践模型。具体而言，该项目将通过用典型的性别匹配、典型的年龄/性别匹配和合成的性别匹配样本替换扭曲或省略的辅音音素，来操纵中度至重度构音障碍患者的语音生成。目标2将确定SSR的识别精度与操纵的语音样本。PI假设，不同的操作策略将产生可比的识别精度结果，由于他们的经验，其识别严重失真以及非失真的语音的能力。这一结果将推动开发团队的未来方向，通过确定哪种操作策略来重点生产功能性语音练习目标，以将SSR开发成语音练习工具。最后，目标3将记录15次试验治疗过程中言语表现的初步变化，以确定SSR在长期言语练习中的潜在作用。PI假设患有中度至重度构音障碍的个体将表现出目标练习词的语音清晰度的增加，并且与他们的习惯性制作相比，他们的语音制作在使用SSR时将在声学上发生变化。本研究将采用三级研究设计，包括摩尔（使用受试者内重复测量ANOVA进行的组分析）、中间和分子（个体详细病例研究）水平的分析。本计画目标之达成，将为发展一套能自动化语音刺激处理之电脑练习程式，以进行功能性语音练习，奠定基础。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Dysarthria is a common motor speech disorder following acquired neurologic conditions such as stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Dysarthria is a major source of disability as it causes difficulty with communication and poses significant barriers to employment and re-integration into the home and community. Individuals with dysarthria require extensive speech practice over time in order for motor learning to occur to improve their ability to communicate. However, there is limited financial support for speech therapy to provide individuals with dysarthria the extensive speech practice opportunities required to regain functional speech for productive participation in work, home and community settings. Thus, it is critical that more effective approaches be developed to support and supplement the limited speech therapy services individuals with dysarthria receive. This study furthers the mission of the NCMRR/NICHD to enhance the independence and well-being of persons with disability through rehabilitation by developing a novel approach to speech practice for dysarthria using the Supplemented Speech Recognition (SSR) program. The SSR has been developed by the research team and utilizes speech recognition technology that can manage severely dysarthric speech as an assistive writing program. This investigation will provide the preliminary data to support the future development of the SSR into a computerized speech practice system. Aim 1 will focus on developing the technical ability to acoustically manipulate dysarthric speech samples to provide a practice model. Specifically, this project will manipulate the speech productions of individuals with moderate to severe dysarthria by replacing distorted or omitted consonant phonemes with typical gender-matched, typical age/gender-matched, and synthetic gender-matched samples. Aim 2 will identify the recognition accuracy of the SSR with manipulated speech samples. The PIs hypothesize that the different manipulation strategies will yield comparable recognition accuracy results due to their experience with its ability to recognize severely distorted as well as non-distorted speech. The result of this will drive the future direction of the development team by identifying which manipulation strategy to focus on to produce functional speech practice targets to develop the SSR into a speech practice tool. Finally, Aim 3 will document the preliminary changes in speech performance across 15 trial therapy sessions to identify the potential role of SSR in long-term speech practice. The PIs hypothesize that individuals with moderate to severe dysarthria will demonstrate increases in speech intelligibility of target practice words and that their speech productions will change acoustically while using the SSR compared to their habitual productions. This study will utilize a three-level research design that includes molar (group analysis using a within subjects repeated measures ANOVA), intermediate, and molecular (individual detailed case studies) levels of analysis. Achievement of the aims of this project will lay the groundwork for the development of a computer practice program that automates the speech stimuli manipulations for functional speech practice.