Intonation issues in the speech of hearing impaired children: analysis, transcription and remediation

Abstract

The focus of this paper is intonation in the speech hearing impaired children. There are inherent difficulties in using existing auditory and acoustic models of transcribing and labelling intonation patterns generally which are discussed in the context of the wider literature as well the author's experimental work with hearing impaired children. Different approaches to measuring fundamental frequency (F0) are discussed (contour, tone-sequence, and autosegmental metrical), and ways of adapting them to represent intonation patterns, contrastive stress, and declination in hearing impaired speakers are considered. The design and the benefits of an intonation training programme carried out by the author using a visual display are also described. Computer based speech training (CBST) systems and the outcomes of other remediation programmes are also discussed. The issues addressed in this paper have useful implications for analysts wishing to capture salient auditory and acoustic information in the speech of hearing impaired children. There are also important clinical applications such as the development of appropriate visual displays and speech training programmes. The author's current research on emerging babbling and speech patterns, and the development of perception and production of stress and intonation in children using cochlear implants are referred to briefly but will be reported in detail elsewhere.