Development of method for speech synthesis and automatic evaluation for stuttering treatment

在这项研究中，一个新的家庭为基础的计算机程序，包括清晰度的视觉反馈的速度被开发出来，以帮助成年人口吃（AWS）放慢他们的说话速度。本研究设计了三个实验来检验这个新程序的有效性：第一，在没有视觉反馈的情况下记录正常受试者在段落阅读过程中的语速时，受试者不能将他们的语速放慢到目标语速水平。在第二个实验中，视觉反馈被呈现给七个AWS，参与者能够将他们的讲话放慢到目标水平。即使在去除视觉反馈之后，这种效果也保持不变。在第三个实验中，四个AWS使用这个新程序在家里训练他们的语速（每天5分钟）。结果显示，三名自动语音障碍者在接受为期一周的居家治疗后，其言语速度均能减慢至目标水平

In this study, a new home-based computerized program that consists of visual feedback of articulation rate was developed to assist adults who stutter (AWS) to slow down their speaking rate. Three experiments were setup to examine the efficacy of this new program: First, when recording the normal subjects' speaking rate during passage reading with no visual feedback, participants were not able to slow down their speech to the slow target speech rate level. In second experiment where visual feedback was presented to seven AWS, participants were able to slow down their speech to the target level. This effect was maintained even after removing the visual feedback. In third experiment, four AWS utilized this new program to train their speech rate at their home (5 minutes per day). The results showed that three AWS were able to slow down their speech to the target level after 1-week home-based treatment