Speech Range Profile for Moderate‐to‐Severe Hearing Impaired Persons

Abstract

Objectives: Analyze the differences between speech range profile (SRP) parameters in moderate-to-severe hearing impaired and well-hearing persons and to establish the key parameters for speech discrimination. Methods: Data were analyzed in a retrospective study of SRPs in combination with voice range profiles (VRP) recorded at a university hospital during 2001-2004.Standard protocols were derived from 80 adult patients (26 males, 54 females) with moderate-to-severe hearing loss without hearing-aids or laryngeal pathology. Ninety-eight non-hearing impaired age and gender matched persons (33 males, 65 females) with normal voices were also analyzed. Eight SRP parameters were assessed: fundamental frequency (F0), maximum speaking frequency and speaking tone range; habitual intensity, maximum speaking intensity and speaking intensity range; location of F0 within VRP pitch range, and slope of speaking curve. Results: When compared to -normal hearing persons, both genders of hearing impaired individuals exhibited significantly decreased mean values of speaking intensity range and increased in percent of location of F0 within the VRP pitch range ( P < 0.05). Overall discrimination accuracy of these two SRP key parameters was 93.3%. Conclusions. Moderate-to-severe hearing impaired persons demonstrated restricted speaking capabilities in comparison to non-hearing impaired persons. Key parameters of speech range profile may be useful for assessment of hearing and speech rehabilitation efficacy.