Comparison of orosensory confusions of hearing and hearing-impaired adults

The relation between orosensory perception and articulation in 38 normal hearing adults (mean age = 20.1 yr.) with no articulation problems and 63 hearing-impaired adults (mean age = 21.2 yr.) with articulation disorders was investigated. All adults were asked to identify as a visual-matching task the 20 National Institute of Dental Research orosensory forms with handles. Comparison of number and types of orosensory confusions of the participants showed no significant differences between the groups. Results could have been influenced by the test, the response sought, or the origin and nature of the articulation disorders of the hearing-impaired participants. Implications for further research are discussed.