The effects of listener sophistication on judgements of esophageal speech

Abstract

The relationship between listener sophistication and judgements of esophageal speech proficiency was investigated. A secondary objective was to evaluate the effects of visual factors on such judgements. The 22 laryngectomees in the study were recorded by sound-on-film motion picture apparatus while reading the first paragraph of the Rainbow Passage. The speech samples were judged by 30 sophisticated and 30 unsophisticated listeners on the basis of visual information only, auditory information only, and on the basis of auditory-visual information. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) Sophisticated listeners judge esophageal speakers differently than do unsophisticated listeners and the difference is in the direction of a lower rating by the sophisticated judges. (2) Judgements of esophagenal speech do not differ when made on visual information only or auditory information only, and (3) Judgements of esophageal speech made on the basis of auditory-visual information differ significantly from judgements on the basis of auditory information only or visual information only.