IngentaConnect Changes in speech production in post-linguistically deaf adults a...

Authors: Langereis¹; Bosman¹; Van Olphen,¹; Smoorenburg¹

Source: Clinical Otolaryngology & Allied Sciences, Volume 23, Number 2, April 1998 , pp. 188-188(1)

Abstract:

Objective. This study investigated the effect of cochlear implantation on speech production of 20 post-linguistically deaf adults.

Materials and methods. Speech recordings were made pre-implantation and 3 and 12 months post-implantation with the implant switched on and off. The material consisted of a reading-text and lists of h-vowel-t syllables. For the reading-text the mean fundamental frequency (f₀) and the frequency range expressed in number of semitones were calculated. In addition, the intelligibility of vowels of seven subjects with relatively poor speech production was determined for the h-vowel-t syllables.

Results. Twelve months post-implantation with the implant switched on mean f₀ values were lower than the pre-implantation values. Additionally, we found a decrease in the frequency range. Interestingly, switching the implant off at 12 months post-implantation resulted in an increase of the frequency range. The results of the vowel-identification experiment showed an improvement of vowel intelligibility at 12 months post-implantation.

Conclusion. Post-linguistically deaf adults use the auditory information from the implant to improve their speech production.

Keywords: audiometry; otosclerosis; second ear; stapedectomy

Document Type: Abstract

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2273.1998.0119j.x

Affiliations: 1: Utrecht, The Netherlands

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Changes in speech production in post-linguistically deaf adults after cochlear implantation