Related Experiment Videos
Children's perception of nasal resonance
The Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders
|August 1, 1977
Summary
Children perceive severe hypernasality negatively. This study shows that even young children recognize and dislike abnormal nasal resonance, suggesting hypernasality should be corrected.
Area of Science:
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Pediatric Audiology
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Nasal resonance, specifically hypernasality, affects speech clarity.
- Understanding children's perception of speech disorders is crucial for early intervention.
- Limited research exists on how children perceive hypernasality in their peers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate elementary-school-aged children's perception of nasal resonance in other children.
- To determine if children can identify and react negatively to hypernasality.
- To gather evidence supporting the need for correcting hypernasality.
Main Methods:
- 120 elementary-school-aged children participated in the study.
- Participants listened to recordings of four female child speakers with varying degrees of hypernasality.
- Children responded to 20 questions assessing their perception of the voices.
Main Results:
- All child participants responded negatively to severe hypernasality.
- Children demonstrated an ability to perceive and react to abnormal nasal resonance.
- The severity of hypernasality correlated with negative perception.
Conclusions:
- Children are sensitive to hypernasality in the speech of their peers.
- Negative perception suggests hypernasality impacts social and communicative interactions.
- Findings support the clinical recommendation for correcting hypernasality in children.