Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026
A Protocol for Comprehensive Assessment of Bulbar Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Published on: February 21, 2011
Speech recognition and dysarthria: a single subject study of two individuals with profound impairment of speech and
Christina Havstam1, Margret Buchholz, Lena Hartelius
1Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Division of Logopedics and Phoniatrics, SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden. christina.havstam@vgregion.se
Abstract:
This study investigated the use of the speech recognition system Dragon Dictate as an augmentative method of computer access for two individuals with cerebral palsy, including severe motor dysfunction and dysarthria. Single subject design was used and measures of computer access system effectiveness and speech production were used before, during and after intervention. The users' original switch access system was compared to a combination of their switch access system and speech recognition, by counting the number of correct entries. Adding speech recognition increased the number of correct entries by 40% for one of the participants. The other participant did not complete the intervention protocol. An independent judge rated speech production. No changes in speech were observed. Dragon Dictate is time-consuming to learn and demands a high level of motivation, but can be beneficial to a person who has profound dysarthria and great difficulties in accessing the computer.
