Tactiling: a usable support system for speechreading?

The purpose of this study was to find out whether deafened adults can take advantage of the extra information in speechreading given by the vibrational and motional patterns picked up by placing a hand on a speaker's throat and shoulder, and how valuable this tactile supplement is as a support system for speechreading. We have named this method--speechreading with tactile supplement--tactiling. Eight deafened adults participated in the study, conducted with a pre-test/post-test control group design. The experimental and the control groups took speechreading classes together. The experimental group received additional individual training in tactiling during six 1 h lessons. Both the experimental and the control groups were tested, before and after training, first by a familiar person and thereafter by an unfamiliar person. The results demonstrated two significant main effects. Tactiling is generally better than speechreading alone, and the results from the test given by the familiar speaker are better than with the unfamiliar speaker. The main effect of tactiling indicates that the method is worth pursuing as a communication system for the deafened adults. Possible reasons for the direct effect of tactiling are discussed, as well as modifications of this 'natural' device.