Effects of audio-visual information on the intelligibility of alaryngeal speech.

BACKGROUND: There is minimal research on the contribution of visual information on speech intelligibility for individuals with a laryngectomy (IWL). AIMS: The purpose of this project was to determine the effects of mode of presentation (audio-only, audio-visual) on alaryngeal speech intelligibility. METHOD: Twenty-three naïve listeners were randomly presented 176 phonemically balanced sentences produced by three alaryngeal (tracheoesophageal, esophageal, electrolaryngeal) and one typical, laryngeal speaker in both audio-only and audio-visual modes of presentation. RESULTS: Overall, results showed a small (3%) but statistically significant higher speech intelligibility score for audio-visual stimuli compared to audio-only stimuli as well as a significant interaction effect between mode of speech and mode of presentation. Within mode of speech, electrolaryngeal speech was the only mode that benefited significantly from the inclusion of visual information (10% increase). Overall intelligibility showed similar patterns both within audio-only and audio-visual modes of presentation: typical laryngeal and tracheoesophageal speech modes were significantly more intelligible than both esophageal and electrolaryngeal. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that listeners may benefit more from visual information from speakers with poor baseline speech intelligibility. Results also show similar intelligibility between typical, laryngeal and tracheoesophageal modes of speech. Results should be interpreted with caution, however, as only one speaker from each mode of speech was included. Further research is required to determine the nature of the increase. LEARNING OUTCOMES: Readers will (1) increase their understanding of the potential impact of visual information in the perception of alaryngeal speech; (2) identify potential factors that may augment or hinder speech perception; and (3) discuss how individual modes of alaryngeal speech may be affected by audio-visual information.

Effects of audio-visual information and mode of speech on listener perceptions of alaryngeal speakers.

There is minimal research on listener perceptions of an individual with a laryngectomy (IWL) based on audio-visual information. The aim of this research was to provide preliminary insight into whether listeners have different perceptions of an individual with a laryngectomy based on mode of presentation (audio-only vs. audio-visual) and mode of speech (tracheoesophageal, oesophageal, electrolaryngeal, normal). Thirty-four naïve listeners were randomly presented with a standard reading passage produced by one typical speaker from each mode of speech in both audio-only and audio-visual presentation mode. Listeners used a visual analogue scale (10 cm line) to indicate their perceptions of each speaker's personality. A significant effect for mode of speech was present. There was no significant difference in listener perceptions between mode of presentation using individual ratings. However, principal component analysis showed ratings were more favourable in the audio-visual mode. Results of this study suggest that visual information may only have a minor impact on listener perceptions of a speakers' personality and that mode of speech and degree of speech proficiency may only play a small role in listener perceptions. However, results should be interpreted with caution as results are based on only one speaker per mode of speech.