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Intelligibility of speech produced during simultaneous communication.
Robert L Whitehead1, Nicholas Schiavetti, Douglas J MacKenzie
1National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Carey 1309, 96 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623-5604, USA. rwwncr@rit.edu
Journal of Communication Disorders
|April 6, 2004
Summary
Simultaneous communication (SC) does not impact speech intelligibility. Research shows that even with temporal changes, speech clarity remains consistent whether using SC or speech alone (SA).
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Linguistics
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Simultaneous communication (SC) is a method combining spoken language with sign language.
- Understanding the impact of SC on speech intelligibility is crucial for effective communication, especially with deaf children.
- Previous research suggests temporal alterations in SC may not affect speech perception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the overall intelligibility of speech produced during simultaneous communication (SC).
- To compare speech intelligibility in SC versus speech alone (SA) conditions.
- To analyze phonetic contrast recognition errors in SC.
Main Methods:
- Four hearing, experienced sign language users recorded speech under SC and SA conditions.
- Participants spoke Boothroyd's (1985) forced-choice phonetic contrast material.
- Twelve hearing-impaired listeners audited speech samples and identified errors.
Main Results:
- Sentence durations were longer in SC compared to SA.
- No significant difference was found in overall speech intelligibility between SC and SA conditions.
- The pattern of phonetic contrast recognition errors remained consistent across both conditions.
Conclusions:
- Simultaneous communication (SC) does not negatively affect speech intelligibility.
- Temporal alterations associated with SC do not degrade speech cues or disrupt phoneme perception.
- Findings support the effectiveness of SC for clear communication.