The long term goal of our research is to develop an acoustically-based, explanatory model of the communication deficit in dysarthria that can be used to guide and justify treatment decisions. Toward this end, the proposed Phase I treatment project will investigate the relationship among phonatory and supralaryngeal acoustic measures of speech, intelligibility, and speaking conditions used as intervention strategies for dysarthria secondary to Parkinson disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Studies from the first funding cycle indicated that vowel distinctiveness was maximized in a Slow condition while consonant distinctiveness and intelligibility were maximized in a Loud condition. Supralaryngeal acoustic measures also accounted for only a portion of the variance in intelligibility. Whether a speech mode encouraging a slowed rate and increased intensity would yield improvements in acoustic-phonetic distinctiveness and intelligibility above those associated with rate reduction or increased loudness alone is unknown, although the Perceptual-Acoustic Theory (Perkell et al., 2000) predicts such an outcome. The proposed project tests this and other predictions of the Perceptual-Acoustic Theory by extending the study of speech mode effects in dysarthria to Clear speech, a speech mode encouraging a slowed rate and increased intensity. The contribution of acoustic measures of phonatory behavior to intelligibility as well as measures of acoustic-phonetic distinctiveness also will be studied. Loud, Slow, Clear, and even Fast speech modes are used therapeutically to maximize intelligibility in dysarthria, yet comparative group studies are lacking. Research that improves our understanding of acoustic-perceptual changes associated with these speech modes would strengthen the scientific bases of treatment techniques and may reveal acoustic-perceptual advantages of a given speech mode that will determine preferred therapies - key considerations for evidence based practice. The overarching hypothesis to be evaluated is that intelligibility and acoustic-phonetic distinctiveness will be maximized in conditions associated with increased effort, as indexed by SPL, and for which a slowed rate is encouraged, whereas phonatory function will be maximized in conditions associated with increased effort. This hypothesis is suggested by the Perceptual-Acoustic Theory, which posits a trade-off between effort and acoustic-perceptual adequacy as well as articulatory rate and accuracy. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DC004689-07
Application #
7457985
Study Section
Motor Function, Speech and Rehabilitation Study Section (MFSR)
Program Officer
Shekim, Lana O
Project Start
2001-01-15
Project End
2012-06-30
Budget Start
2008-07-01
Budget End
2009-06-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$259,304
Indirect Cost
Name
State University of New York at Buffalo
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
038633251
City
Buffalo
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
14260
Feenaughty, Lynda; Tjaden, Kris; Weinstock-Guttman, Bianca et al. (2018) Separate and Combined Influence of Cognitive Impairment and Dysarthria on Functional Communication in Multiple Sclerosis. Am J Speech Lang Pathol 27:1051-1065
Martel-Sauvageau, Vincent; Tjaden, Kris (2017) Vocalic transitions as markers of speech acoustic changes with STN-DBS in Parkinson's Disease. J Commun Disord 70:1-11
Tjaden, Kris; Martel-Sauvageau, Vincent (2017) Consonant Acoustics in Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis: Comparison of Clear and Loud Speaking Conditions. Am J Speech Lang Pathol 26:569-582
Stipancic, Kaila L; Tjaden, Kris; Wilding, Gregory (2016) Comparison of Intelligibility Measures for Adults With Parkinson's Disease, Adults With Multiple Sclerosis, and Healthy Controls. J Speech Lang Hear Res 59:230-8
Kuo, Christina; Tjaden, Kris (2016) Acoustic variation during passage reading for speakers with dysarthria and healthy controls. J Commun Disord 62:30-44
Lam, Jennifer; Tjaden, Kris (2016) Clear Speech Variants: An Acoustic Study in Parkinson's Disease. J Speech Lang Hear Res 59:631-46
Tjaden, Kris; Kain, Alexander; Lam, Jennifer (2014) Hybridizing conversational and clear speech to investigate the source of increased intelligibility in speakers with Parkinson's disease. J Speech Lang Hear Res 57:1191-205
Tjaden, Kris; Sussman, Joan E; Wilding, Gregory E (2014) Impact of clear, loud, and slow speech on scaled intelligibility and speech severity in Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. J Speech Lang Hear Res 57:779-92
Feenaughty, Lynda; Tjaden, Kris; Sussman, Joan (2014) Relationship between acoustic measures and judgments of intelligibility in Parkinson's disease: a within-speaker approach. Clin Linguist Phon 28:857-78
Kuo, Christina; Tjaden, Kris; Sussman, Joan E (2014) Acoustic and perceptual correlates of faster-than-habitual speech produced by speakers with Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. J Commun Disord 52:156-69

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