Effects of synthetic speech output in the learning of graphic symbols of varied iconicity.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of additional auditory feedback from synthetic speech on the learning of high translucent symbols versus low translucent symbols.


METHODS
Two adults with little or no functional speech and severe intellectual disabilities served as participants. A single-subject ABACA/ACABA design was used to study the relative effects of two treatments: symbol training in the presence and absence of synthetic speech output.


RESULTS
The results clearly indicated that the two treatments, rather than extraneous variables were responsible for gains in the symbol learning. Both participants learned either more low translucent symbols or reached their maximum learning of low translucent symbols in the speech output condition.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this preliminary study replicate and extend the iconicity hypothesis to a new set of learning conditions involving speech output, and suggest that feedback from speech output may assist adults with profound intellectual disabilities in coding particularly those symbols whose association with their referent cannot be coded via their visual resemblance with the referent.
Koul
Rajinder
R
Department of Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA. rajinder.koul@ttuhsc.edu
Schlosser
Ralf
R
D000328:Adult; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D003196:Computer Graphics; D003210:Concept Formation; D004495:Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012984:Software; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013561:Symbolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome