Pilon, M.A., McIntosh, K.W., & Thaut, M.H. (1998). Auditory vs. visual
speech timing cues as external rate control to enhance verbal intelligibility
in mixed spastic-ataxic dysarthric speakers: A pilot study. Brain Injury,
12(9), 793-803.
Type
of
Study |
Pilot study |
| Subjects |
3 males; ages
23, 23, 44 |
| Diagnoses |
TBI |
Speech
Condition |
Spastic-ataxic dysarthria-moderate, moderate-severe,
and severe |
| Purpose |
To determine whether the rate control
techniques elicited speech rate reductions
To determine the consequences of slowed
speech rates using 3 different techniques on speech intelligibility |
| Methods |
4 pacing conditions-no pacing, singing
pacing, metronomic pacing, and board pacing
During weekly sessions over 6 weeks subjects
used the techniques and their intelligibility and words per minute were
calculated |
| Results |
Both visuo-spatial and auditory temporal
pacing cues enhanced intelligibility by decreasing speech rate, but there
were individual differences
In the two more severe subjects, improved
intelligibility was closely related to slowed speech
The metronome produced the best results
in the two more severe subjects which suggests the particular effectiveness
of rhythmic anticipatory cues
All three pacing techniques slowed the
subjects' rates of speech |
Treatment
Implications |
External pacing techniques may be beneficial
in slowing rate and improving intelligibility when there is at least moderate-severe
dysarthria but may be detrimental when there is not
Auditory rhythmic cueing was better than
visuo-spatial cueing for increasing intelligibility and slowing speech
rates |
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