Fundamental frequency variation with an electrolarynx improves speech understanding: a case study.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the effect of fundamental frequency (F0) variation on the intelligibility of speech in an alaryngeal talker who used an electrolarynx (EL).


METHODS
One experienced alaryngeal talker produced variable F0 and a constant F0 with his EL as he read sentences aloud. As a control, a group of sentences with variable F0 was flattened at a constant F0. Twenty listeners heard these sentences in background noise and wrote down what they heard.


RESULTS
Speech understanding was on average 14% better with variable F0 controlled by the talker than the sentences produced with a constant F0 and the control sentences resynthesized with flattened F0.


CONCLUSIONS
Variable F0 contributes to speech understanding in noise. Because speech produced by an EL is considered to have poorer intelligibility in relation to other alaryngeal methods, training alaryngeal talkers to use variable F0 may prove to be of significant benefit for communication for those who use electrolarynges.
Watson
Peter J
PJ
Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, 164 Pillsbury Drive, Shevlin 115, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. pjwatson@umn.edu
Schlauch
Robert S
RS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006801:Humans; D007831:Larynx, Artificial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013071:Speech, Alaryngeal; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult