[Investigation of acoustic correlation of intonation and intelligibility of speech in children with cochlear implant and comparison with normal hearing children]

ABSTRACT

Intonation has important roles on increase in intelligibility and conveyance correct meaning especially in conversational speech. Recognition of intonation correlates with three acoustic parameters fundamental frequency, intensity and duration. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the acoustic correlation of intonation and intelligibility of speech in children with cochlear implant [CI] and compare with normal hearing [NH] children. This study has been carried out on 25 cochlear implant children and 25 children with normal hearing in primary school age ranges. Ten pictures were shown to children and statement and question sentences were elicited from them. To investigation of intelligibility, produced sentences were perceptually judgment by seven speech therapists and were scored by five point rating value. Acoustic correlation were determined using Praat software. The results showed that there were significantly difference between two groups in each of acoustic correlations [P<0.05]. Intelligibility scores of CI children were significantly lower than ones of NH children [P<0.05]. There were significantly correlation between intonation and intelligibility scores, also between intelligibility and duration of implant use [P<0.05]. According to the findings of the present study, cochlear implant children's performance in using of acoustic correlation of intonation is lower than normal hearing peers that results in inappropriately intonation. Inappropriately intonation can be the cause of low intelligibility in cochlear implant children. Thus, intervention of intonation should be considered in treatment program of cochlear implant children