Aerodynamic/timing factors related to the intelligibility of deaf speakers

Abstract

The literature describing the speech of the deaf indicates that the inability to learn timing characteristics of consonant and vowel productions is a major cause of reduced intelligibility in oral communication. This study measured several timing gestures for consonant and vowel combinations which have been shown to be essential for intelligibility. The subjects included three groups of speakers between the ages of 12 to 14 years. Group I, which served as the control, consisted of 15 normal hearing school children with normal speech. Group II consisted of 15 prelingual deaf children who were trained predominately in manual communication. Group III consisted of 15 prelingual deaf children who were trained predominately in oral communication. The three groups were compared for differences and similarities in (1) consonant duration, (2) vowel duration, and (3) VOT associated with productions of CV, VCV, and VC syllables spoken in a carrier phrase. The results will be discussed in terms of the deviations of the deaf speech from the normal speech and their relationship to intelligibility.