Vibrotactile speech tracking support: cognitive prerequisites

Fourteen postlingually hearing-impaired participants took part in an intervention study on the potential benefit of three types of tactile aids (i.e., the Tactilator, Minivib 3, and the Tactaid 7). Although training by means of computerized tracking had substantial effects on speech tracking rate, no differential effects of type of aid emerged. However, a cognitive test battery revealed that training efficacy is directly dependent on the cognitive prerequisites of the individual speechreader. The speed with which an individual can make phonological judgments (i.e., rhyme judgments) and visual word decoding from lipreading proved to be critical cognitive skills. We conclude that these skills must be further assessed and taken into account when rehabilitation/training programs are launched.