Perceptual evaluation of tracheoesophageal speech by naive and experienced judges through the use of semantic differential scales.
The present study was conducted to investigate voice quality in tracheoesophageal speech by means of perceptual evaluations and to develop a clinically useful subset of perceptual scales sufficient for these perceptual evaluations. The perceptual ratings were obtained from both naive and trained raters (speech-language pathologists [SLPs]) after listening to a read-aloud text. The perceptual evaluations were performed by means of 19 semantic bipolar 7-point scales for the naive raters and 20 semantic bipolar 7-point scales for the trained raters. The trained raters were also asked to judge the overall voice quality as good, reasonable, or poor. Both naive listeners and trained SLPs were able to perform reliable perceptual judgments. Naive raters judged the tracheoesophageal voice as more deviant than the trained raters did. Naive raters made judgments based on 2 underlying perceptual dimensions (voice quality and pitch), whereas the trained raters made judgments based on 4 underlying perceptual dimensions (voice quality, tonicity, pitch, and tempo). These perceptual dimensions were further subdivided into a subset of 4 perceptual scales for the naive raters and a subset of 8 perceptual scales for the trained raters. This appeared to provide a sufficient coverage of the underlying perceptual dimensions used by the listeners.
van As
Corina J
CJ
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Institute of Phonetic Sciences, University of Amsterdam. c.v.as@nki.nl
Koopmans-van Beinum
Florien J
FJ
Pols
Louis C W
LC
Hilgers
Frans J M
FJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012659:Semantic Differential; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013067:Speech Perception; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D013071:Speech, Alaryngeal / Q000523:psychology*; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires