The Impact of Visual and Audiovisual Inputs on Voice Perception and Production: Exploring the Role of Immersive Virtual Reality in Clinical Practice

Abstract

Sensory feedback is crucial for regulating pitch, loudness and other aspects of voice and speech perception and production. (1) Auditory input is traditionally considered the primary signal in speech communication. One of many examples leading to this reasonable conclusion are studies showing that deaf infants exhibit delayed articulatory precision in babbling and phonological deficits during puberty. (2,3) Other studies have found that superior auditory skills enhance pitch accuracy in voice production, revealing the relationship between auditory input and voice production. (4) Interestingly, other evidence indicates that blind children may also experience phonological deficits. (5) Additionally, incongruent audiovisual input impacts speech perception. (6) Despite these findings, the influence of visual input on individuals’ voice perception and production has largely been overlooked.