Dysarthric speech : A comparison of computerized speech recognition and listener intelligibility

• Published in: Journal of rehabilitation research and development 1997-07, Vol.34 (3), p.309-316
• Main Authors: DOYLE, P. C, LEEPER, H. A, KOTLER, A.-L, THOMAS-STONELL, N, O'NEILL, C, DYLKE, M.-C, ROLLS, K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Computer Systems - standards; Diseases of the nervous system; Dysarthria - physiopathology; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Severity of Illness Index; Speech Acoustics; Speech Intelligibility; Speech Perception; Time Factors; User-Computer Interface
• ISSN: 0748-7711; 1938-1352

The purpose of this study was to identify and compare the recognition of dysarthric speech by a computerized voice recognition (VR) system and non-hearing-impaired adult listeners. Intelligibility "functions" were obtained for six dysarthric speakers who varied in severity and six age- and gender-matched controls. Speakers produced 70-item word lists over 5 sessions. VR using the IBM VoiceType and perceptual judgment scores were obtained and functions plotted by session. Data indicate that computerized recognition of both dysarthric and nonimpaired speech was characterized by initially steep increases in correct recognition with more gradual increases noted during the second through fifth sessions. Perceptual recognition by non-hearing-impaired adults indicates generally stable intelligibility scores over time. Severity of dysarthria did appear to influence recognition of target stimuli. Implications of these data to the application of computerized VR technology are presented.