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，其受到诸如收听者的语言背景知识以及由扬声器产生的声学信号的无数变量的影响。 然而，一直很少有系统的调查，发音相关和扬声器相关的变量对可懂度的差异影响或在何种程度上，这些变量可以被利用来提高可懂度的扬声器与慢性构音障碍。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发音者相关变量对语音清晰度的独立和交互作用。干预策略，字母补充（AS），其中扬声器与构音障碍指出每个单词的第一个字母，同时发言，是本研究中特别感兴趣的。初步研究表明，AS有可能显着提高构音障碍语音的可懂度;然而，可懂度提高的原因尚不清楚。这是假设，这两个扬声器相关的生产变化和语言知识提供给听众发挥作用。两项相关研究将调查这些变量的影响。研究1将通过操纵语义预测性和实验施加的字母线索，研究内在和外在的听众知识对习惯性构音障碍语音可懂度的影响。研究2将通过分析习惯性语音和实施AS时产生的语音之间的频谱和时间声学差异，研究与实施AS相关的扬声器相关的生产变化的影响。在这两项研究中，16名继发于脑瘫的构音障碍患者将担任演讲者，256名非残疾人将担任听众。听众将使用习惯用语和使用字母补充的演讲者的录像带正字法转录。可懂度数据和声学数据将进行方差分析，以回答研究问题。拟议的研究将收集关于AS作为理论框架内的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患者语言清晰度的贡献者。

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.