Stutter-like dysfluencies in Flemish sign language users

Although stuttering is primarily considered to be a disorder of speech, stutter-like dysfluencies have been reported to occur during non-speech activities such as musical expression and sign language. Recently we conducted a questionnaire study aimed at documenting the possible occurrence and nature of stutter-like dysfluencies in Flemish Sign Language. A questionnaire was sent to 66 individuals who have knowledge of Flemish Sign Language and come regularly in contact with Flemish Sign Language users. They were 38 Flemish Sign Language interpreters and 28 employees of special needs schools adapted to deaf and partially deaf pupils. The questionnaire consisted of three parts. First, the participants were inquired about their occupational activities. The second part focused on the research questions. Namely, the interviewees were asked whether they had ever noticed dysfluencies in the manual communication of the deaf and partially deaf. If so, they had to indicate on a list which type of dysfluencies they had perceived and specify whether the dysfluencies generally occurred at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of a sign movement. Finally, the participants were asked to provide details (such as gender, age, nature of the fluency problems, awareness, secondary behaviour, and influencing factors) on each deaf and partially deaf person they consider to be dysfluent in the manual mode. Of the 66 individuals surveyed, 13 (i.e. 20%) responded. Of those 13 respondents, nine (i.e. 69%) reported to have observed dysfluencies in the manual communication of Flemish Sign Language users. Concerning the nature of these dysfluencies, participants mostly perceived ‘involuntary interjections’, ‘repetitions of sign movement’, ‘unusual body movements’ and ‘poor fluidity of the sign’. Looking at the distribution of the dysfluencies within the sign movement, fluency failures can occur at various loci but there seems to be a slight preponderance for the initial position. Individuals considered to be dysfluent in the manual mode are often males. They can be aware of their fluency problems and if so will often demonstrate secondary stuttering behaviour. Events accompanied by stress, fatigue or emotion will increase the manual dysfluencies at least in some cases. The current study revealed mainly features that are typical of stuttering, but also some features that are unlike those usually observed in stutterers. If dysfluencies in manual communication can be regarded as stuttering, this has implications for our perception of the stuttering phenomenon. One possibility is to hold on to the idea that stuttering is ‘first and foremost a disorder of speech’. On the other hand, instead of being a (speech) disorder on itself, stuttered speech and manual dysfluencies could be considered as symptoms of an underlying disturbance in motor functioning. In that case, one would expect to encounter stutter-like dysfluencies in all sorts of behaviour demanding extensive motor planning

Stutter-like dysfluencies in Flemish sign language users

The purpose of this communication is to report on the occurrence of stutter-like behaviour in Flemish Sign Language users. A questionnaire was sent to 38 Flemish Sign Language interpreters and 28 employees of special needs schools adapted to deaf and partially deaf pupils inquiring whether they had ever observed dysfluencies in the manual communication of the deaf and partially deaf. Of the 13 individuals who responded, nine indicated to have perceived such behaviour. The characteristics of the observed dysfluencies are summarized and implications are discussed

Voice characteristics in adults with neurofibromatosis type 1

Introduction and aims of the study: Change or loss of voice in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) has been associated with head and neck neurofibromas. However, laryngeal involvement in NF1 is rare and voice abnormalities have also been reported in absence of such a tumor. Authors mention the occurrence of deviations in voice quality (such as breathiness, hoarseness, harshness, presence of a creak) and problems in regulating pitch and loudness. These studies are mainly based on perceptual evaluations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the voice characteristics of adult NF1 patients without laryngeal manifestations using a multiparameter approach. Methods: A total of 22 NF1 patients (age range 17-64 years) and 22 controls (age range 18-67 years) participated in the study. The patient group consisted of 9 males (mean age 39,33 years) and 13 females (mean age 32,69 years). The control group consisted of 12 males (mean age 38,00 years) and 10 females (mean age 32,90 years). Voice characteristics were evaluated using aerodynamic, voice range and acoustic measurements. These measurements allowed us to determine the Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI). Additionally, participants were asked to complete the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), a questionnaire concerning voice-related quality of life. Results: Vital capacity was significantly reduced in NF1 patients compared with controls. Also, the frequency and intensity range were significantly narrower in the patient group compared with controls. The narrower frequency and intensity range were due to a significantly lower highest frequency and a significantly lower highest intensity respectively. Additionally, male NF1 patients showed a significantly higher lowest intensity compared with male controls. Further, during reading, female NF1 patients exhibited a significantly smaller standard deviation of the mean frequency compared with female controls. This trend was also observed in the male NF1 patients compared with male controls. However, a significant difference could not be demonstrated. Finally, DSI scores were significantly lower and VHI values were significantly higher in both sexes of the patient group compared with controls. Conclusion: NF1 patients appear to have a vocal quality that is worse compared with controls. In particular, it seems that NF1 patients have reduced laryngeal possibilities with respect to fundamental frequency and sound intensity compared with controls. They are also more likely to present a more marked psychosocial voice impact compared with controls

Quantitative analysis of language production in Parkinson's disease using a cued sentence generation task

The present study examined language production skills in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. A unique cued sentence generation task was created in order to reduce demands on memory and attention. Differences in sentence production abilities according to disease severity and cognitive impairments were assessed. Language samples were obtained from 20 PD patients and 20 healthy control participants matched for age, sex and educational level. In addition, a cognitive test for verbal memory and resistance to cognitive interference was administered. Statistical comparisons revealed significant language changes in an advanced stage of the disease. Advanced PD patients showed a reduction in lexical diversity in notional verbs, which was absent in nouns. Cognitive dysfunctions such as impaired verbal memory are suggested to contribute to the typical noun/verb dissociation in PD patients. In addition, advanced PD patients produced more semantic perseverations, which may be related to set-switching problems. In conclusion, whether language disturbances in PD are the result of non-linguistic cognitive dysfunctions or reflect pure language deficits exacerbated by cognitive impairments, remains a matter of debate. However, the negative impact of cognitive dysfunctions may be important

Een gevalsstudie in forensische fonetiek

In de forensische fonetiek gaat het niet zozeer over de herkenning van een spraakklank, maar veeleer over de herkenning van een spreker. Nochtans zijn de concepten, grootheden en meetinstrumenten waarvan men zich bedient in wezen dezelfde. Akoestische details die voldoende variëren van spreker tot spreker en tegelijk voor een gegeven spreker relatief constant zijn, zijn echter moeilijk te vinden. In de forensische fonetiek bestaat er (nog) geen definitieve set van parameters en is er evenmin een vast protocol voor spreker-identificatie of authenticatie van opnames: men moet parameters en protocol aanpassen aan de voorhanden zijnde data. Deze bijdrage gaat over een geval van dreigtelefoons. De auteurs werd gevraagd om een kopie van de originele opname van een antwoordapparaat, gemaakt door politie, te verifiëren (authenticatie) en om vervolgens na te gaan of een verdachte effectief als de spreker in de opname aanzien kon worden (spreker-identificatie)

Meningen van heteroseksuele mannen en vrouwen over de spraak van homoseksuele mannen en vrouwen

Achtergrond. Het is algemeen bekend dat de spraak van mannen en vrouwen onderling verschilt. Bovendien wordt gesuggereerd dat naargelang de seksuele voorkeur de spraak binnen deze groepen ook verschillen zou vertonen. Zo werden in de vroege literatuur populaire stereotypes beschreven over de spraakkenmerken van homoseksuele mannen en lesbische vrouwen, in die zin dat niet-heteroseksuelen de typische spraakpatronen zouden hanteren van het andere geslacht. Vooral over homoseksuelen bestaan een aantal vastgeroeste ideeën. Sinds deze publicaties is er zowel op sociaal als demografisch vlak veel veranderd. Mensen zijn opener over hun seksuele voorkeur, genieten vaker een hogere opleiding, zijn minder conservatief-religieus en leven vaker in een verstedelijkte omgeving. De huidige studie wou dan ook nagaan hoe wij tegenwoordig aankijken tegen homoseksualiteit en de spraak van homoseksuelen en lesbiennes in het bijzonder. Methode. Voor deze studie werden in 2009 door studenten 2de bachelor logopedie en audiologie (UGent) bij 1435 Vlamingen vragenlijsten afgenomen. Resultaten en besluit. Vlamingen staan tegenwoordig relatief tolerant ten opzichte van homoseksualiteit. Mannen, oudere personen en lager opgeleiden zijn echter iets gereserveerder in hun antwoord. Personen in contact met niet-heteroseksuelen stellen zich dan weer liberaler op. Hoewel beide aanvaard worden, wordt lesbisch zijn als meer “normaal en aanvaardbaar” bevonden dan homoseksualiteit. Verder denkt de meerderheid van de respondenten dat de seksuele voorkeur van homoseksuele mannen te horen is aan hun spraak. Homoseksuelen zouden op een hogere toonhoogte spreken en gebruik maken van een verfijnde articulatie en woordenschat en meer intonatie, emoties en lichaamstaal. Lesbiennes, daarentegen, zouden geen kenmerkend spraakpatroon vertonen

Tape authentication and voice identification: a case study in forensic acoustic phonetics

Audio tapes are often used as evidence in courtrooms. This report is about a case of threatening telephone calls. Tape authentication was done by visual and statistical analysis of pitch and loudness contours. Voice identification was done by means of a “voice line-up”, i.e. judging differences and similarities in a series of matched voices (including the defendants’ voice) and the voice on the exhibit recording. Methods for authentication and identification are described in detail