title: How fluent is the fluent speech of people who stutter? A new approach to measuring kinematics with ultrasound.
abstract: We present a new approach to the investigation of dynamic ultrasound tongue imaging (UTI) data, applied here to analyse the subtle aspects of the fluency of people who stutter (PWS). Fluent productions of CV syllables (C = /k/; V = /ɑ, i, ə/) from three PWS and three control speakers (PNS) were analysed for duration and peak velocity relative to articulatory movement towards (onset) and away from (offset) the consonantal closure. The objective was to apply a replicable methodology for kinematic investigation to speech of PWS in order to test Wingate's Fault-Line hypothesis. As was hypothesised, results show comparable onset behaviours for both groups. Regarding offsets, groups differ in peak velocity. Results suggest that PWS do not struggle initiating consonantal closure (onset). In transition from consonantal closure into the vowel, however, groups appear to employ different strategies expressed in increased variation (PNS) versus decreased mean peak velocity (PWS).
authors.affiliation: a Clinical Audiology, Speech and Language (CASL) Research Centre , Queen Margaret University , Edinburgh , Scotland.
authors.forename: Cornelia J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Heyde
authors.affiliation: a Clinical Audiology, Speech and Language (CASL) Research Centre , Queen Margaret University , Edinburgh , Scotland.
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Scobbie
authors.affiliation: a Clinical Audiology, Speech and Language (CASL) Research Centre , Queen Margaret University , Edinburgh , Scotland.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lickley
authors.affiliation: b School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences (PPLS) , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , Scotland.
authors.forename: Eleanor K E
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Drake
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*; D013068:Speech Production Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D013342:Stuttering / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014059:Tongue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Dynamic analysis; fluency; gestural timing; stuttering; ultrasound