Learning and adaptation in speech production without a vocal tract

How is the complex audiomotor skill of speaking learned? To what extent does it depend on the specific characteristics of the vocal tract? Here, we developed a touchscreen-based speech synthesizer to examine learning of speech production independent of the vocal tract. Participants were trained to reproduce heard vowel targets by reaching to locations on the screen without visual feedback and receiving endpoint vowel sound auditory feedback that depended continuously on touch location. Participants demonstrated learning as evidenced by rapid increases in accuracy and consistency in the production of trained targets. This learning generalized to productions of novel vowel targets. Subsequent to learning, sensorimotor adaptation was observed in response to changes in the location-sound mapping. These findings suggest that participants learned adaptable sensorimotor maps allowing them to produce desired vowel sounds. These results have broad implications for understanding the acquisition of speech motor control.Published versio

Improved status following behavioural intervention in a case of severe dysarthria with stroke aetiology

There is little published intervention outcome literature concerning dysarthria acquired from stroke. Single case studies have the potential to provide more detailed specification and interpretation than is generally possible with larger participant numbers and are thus informative for clinicians who may deal with similar cases. Such research also contributes to the future planning of larger scale investigations. Behavioural intervention is described which was carried out with a man with severe dysarthria following stroke, beginning at seven and ending at nine months after stroke. Pre-intervention stability between five and seven months contrasted with significant improvements post-intervention on listener-rated measures of word and reading intelligibility and communication effectiveness in conversation. A range of speech analyses were undertaken (comprising of rate, pause and intonation characteristics in connected speech and phonetic transcription of single word production), with the aim of identifying components of speech which might explain the listeners’ perceptions of improvement. Pre- and post intervention changes could be detected mainly in parameters related to utterance segmentation and intonation. The basis of improvement in dysarthria following intervention is complex, both in terms of the active therapeutic dimensions and also the specific speech alterations which account for changes to intelligibility and effectiveness. Single case results are not necessarily generalisable to other cases and outcomes may be affected by participant factors and therapeutic variables, which are not readily controllable

Frequency Specific Hearing Assessment Noise: Minimum Response Levels and Response Times in the Pediatric Population

Pediatric audiological testing typically consists of using sound field testing for children six months to two years of age. It is conducted with a child seated in the center of a sound booth with speakers located on the right and left sides of the patient at varying degrees each with an object to reinforce their response. This sound field testing is completed using one of two stimuli: narrowband noise or warbled tones. A newer noise, referred to as frequency specific hearing assessment (FRESH) noise. was created to be used specifically for pediatric patients to grab their attention and respond faster to the stimulus. Previous studies have been completed and researchers found that FRESH noise and other stimuli obtained consistent thresholds but narrowband noise highly underestimated a hearing loss (Moore & Violetto, 2016). The purpose of this study was to compare the minimum response levels (MRLs) for two different stimuli, narrowband noise and FREquency Specific Hearing Assessment (FRESH) noise, as well as the timing of each participant’s head turn toward the sound source. The other purpose was to determine if FRESH noise obtained a faster head turn response as compared to narrowband noise. Data were collected from 10 children between 12 and 27 months of age within the northern Colorado area. Both the minimum response level and timing of head turn response were obtained. It was hypothesized that FRESH noise would obtain a better minimum response level and faster head turn response than narrowband noise. It was concluded that there was no significant difference in minimum response level or timing. Further studies need to be completed with a larger sample size and various hearing losses to confirm these findings

Differences between the acoustic parameters of prosody in speakers with asd and typically developing speakers ages three to six

The present study was designed to compare the acoustic parameters of prosody of children between the ages of three and six with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD to age matched typically developing (TD) speakers. The acoustic parameters of prosody examined were fundamental frequency (f0), intensity, speech rate, and speech rhythm. Analyzing the acoustic features of atypical expressive prosody in speakers with ASD would provide more detailed and defined information regarding the nature of the prosodic abnormality in these individuals to guide clinicians in providing a more concentrated focus for intervention. Speech samples were obtained from ten English-speaking, monolingual children (5 ASD, 5 TD) between the ages of three and six. The speech samples were analyzed for various measurements of f0, intensity, speech rate, and speech rhythm to determine differences. Results showed that, of the ten prosodic variables analyzed, five of them were significantly different between ASD and TD speakers: %V, mean f0, f0 standard deviation, intensity range, and intensity standard deviation. Specifically, TD speakers had a higher %V, f0 mean, intensity range, and intensity standard deviation, while ASD speakers had a higher f0 standard deviation. These findings in relation to previous, similar research, suggest that the prosodic features of preschool age children with ASD change with increasing age. Therefore, it is essential that clinicians are aware of ages in which prosodic deficits tend to appear so that intervention can begin at the appropriate age for each child and potential social barriers can be minimized or prevented

ESTABLISHING STIMULUS CONTROL ON VOCAL STEREOTYPY IN A PRE-SCHOOL AGE CHILD: REDUCING THE VOICE LEVEL OF SPEECH AND STEREOTYPY WHILE MONITORING THE COLLATERAL EFFECTS

The current study demonstrated how an antecedent intervention with visual feedback can be both effective at decreasing the magnitude or volume of vocal stereotypy while producing a collateral effect on the topography or type of vocalizations by leading to a decrease in inappropriate communication (stereotypy) and an increase in appropriate, functional speech. An alternating treatments design (card and no card conditions) was utilized with a follow-up probe across settings to assess generalization. The results of the study suggest that the volume of vocalizations could come under stimulus control of the card and that the volume of vocalizations was positively correlated with the topography (appropriate vs. inappropriate communication) Specifically, decreasing the volume decreased inappropriate communication such as stereotypy or non-functional communication. The implications of these findings for the treatment of vocal stereotypy and collateral effects on an untargeted dimension of behavior are discussed. KEY WORDS: vocal stereotypy, stimulus control, reducing stereotypy, collateral effects, volume of vocalizations, topography of vocalizations, autism spectrum disorde

Speech Enhancement Algorithm to Reduce the Effect of Background Noise in Mobile Phones

ABSTRAC

Group Speech Therapy in Individuals With Parkinson Disease: Face-to-Face Versus Telemedicine

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of group speech therapy for individuals with Parkinson Disease (IWPD) in general and to compare outcomes of group treatment delivered face-to-face (FtF) versus delivery via telemedicine (TM). Twenty-seven IWPD received group treatment based on a modified version of LSVT® in either an FtF or TM format. Outcome measures were collected pre- and post-treatment, which included vocal intensity (dB), Voice Handicap Index (VHI) scores, and self-ratings. Results indicated that vocal intensity and self-ratings of loudness significantly increased for both the FtF and TM groups. VHI scores and the five remaining self-ratings were not significantly improved for either group following treatment, although the data on all measures from the FtF group did show improvement. The findings of this study support the short-term effectiveness of FtF and TM group therapy for improving vocal intensity and participant self-ratings of loudness in IWPD

Airtime: Integrating Acoustics into the Design Process

Background As part of the sensory experience, acoustics serves an important role in facilitating the social functions of a space. The acoustic response of a space plays a part in determining its social atmosphere, as well as how it functions for certain occupancies (eg. clarity in a classroom, projection on a stage, fullness in an orchestra). The acoustics of a space is determined by the assembly and materials of its envelope, as well as the occupation within. Commonly, specific acoustic solutions like panels, foam, or sound batt insulation are used to manage or treat the acoustic qualities of a space. Research Focus How can we define a design process for the acoustic response of a space? How can we define an architectural design language to treat the acoustic response of a space? How can this design process/language make architectural acoustics a more accessible topic for architects who do not specialize in acoustics? Research Methodology Case studies of existing architectural spaces with acoustic solutions or non-solutions, experimental research creating physical spaces with acoustic responses. Design Outcomes A recording studio featuring sound labs with flexible acoustic wall assemblies and systems, and; a framework for evaluating the acoustic performance of a space given its dimensions, materials, and occupancy/furnishings, as well as specifying these characteristics to achieve a given acoustic response