Biomedical subjects

Jeffrey P Searl

Publications and source records attributed to Jeffrey P Searl.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Velopharyngeal aerodynamics of /m/ and /p/ in tracheoesophageal speech.

The purpose of this study was to compare oral pressure (P(o)), nasal airflow (V(n)), and velopharyngeal (VP) orifice area estimates from 12 tracheoesophageal (TE) and 12 laryngeal speakers as they produced /p/ and /m/ in syllable series. The findings were as follows: (1) TE speakers produced greater P(o) than the laryngeal speakers; (2) for /p/, TE speakers generated V(n), and VP orifice area estimates comparable with, or less than, the laryngeal speakers; and (3) for /m/, TE speakers had V(n) and VP orifice area estimates greater than the laryngeal speakers. The elevated P(o) could be the result of several factors such as high source driving pressures and vocal tract volume changes postlaryngectomy. Attempts at more precise articulation, and subsequently less coarticulation, by the TE speakers may explain the V(n) and VP orifice area estimates for /p/ and /m/. TE speakers may be limiting the oral-nasal cavity coupling for /p/ (smaller VP gap, less V(n)) in an attempt to produce a very precise oral /p/. For /m/, TE speakers may be attempting to overtly mark the consonant as a nasal (greater V(n), larger VP gap). Further studies are needed to confirm/refute the explanations postulated here regarding the VP aerodynamic differences that were identified.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Comparison of transducers and intraoral placement options for measuring lingua-palatal contact pressure during speech.

Two studies were completed that focused on instrumentation and procedural issues associated with measurement of lingua-palatal contact pressure (LPCP) during speech. In the first experiment, physical features and response characteristics of 2 miniature pressure transducers (Entran EPI-BO and Precision Measurement 60S) were evaluated to identify a transducer suitable for measuring LPCP during speech. The 2 transducers were comparable in terms of physical dimensions and most response characteristics. However, the Entran device was less affected by air temperature fluctuations, making it the more attractive option for speech LPCP measurement. In a second experiment, 3 methods of placing the Entran device in the mouth were compared. The 3 adhesion methods evaluated were (a) taping a transducer to the hard palate, (b) surface mounting on a mold of the palate, and (c) flush mounting on a mold of the palate. Directly taping the transducer to the alveolar ridge was the least acceptable option, as it resulted in changes in other aspects of speech production (consonant duration and centroid frequency of the burst/frication) suggesting that articulation was unduly altered. Direct taping was also rated as least acceptable by the speakers. Surface and flush mounting resulted in fewer changes in speech aerodynamic and acoustic parameters of /t/ and/s/ compared to the tape condition. Listener ratings also indicated less articulatory disturbance in the surface and flush mounting conditions compared to the tape condition. Surface mounting was technically easier than flush mounting and it allows for rapid repositioning of the transducer if needed.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Speech disfluency in centenarians.

UNLABELLED: Other than a single case presentation of a 105-year-old female, no other studies have addressed the speech fluency characteristics of centenarians. The purpose of this study was to provide descriptive information on the fluency characteristics of speakers between the ages of 100-103 years. Conversational speech samples from seven speakers were evaluated for the frequency and types of disfluencies and speech rate. The centenarian speakers had a disfluency rate similar to that reported for 70-, 80-, and early 90-year-olds. The types of disfluencies observed also were similar to those reported for younger elderly speakers (primarily whole word/phrase, or formulative fluency breaks). Finally, the speech rate data for the current group of speakers supports prior literature reports of a slower rate with advancing age, but extends the finding to centenarians. LEARNING OUTCOMES: As a result of this activity, participants will be able to: (1) describe the frequency of disfluency breaks and the types of disfluencies exhibited by centenarian speakers, (2) describe the mean and range of speaking rates in centenarians, and (3) compare the present findings for centenarians to the fluency and speaking rate characteristics reported in the literature.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Gender and masculinity-femininity ratings of tracheoesophageal speech.

UNLABELLED: Tracheoesophageal (TE) speech is frequently characterized as low pitched and hoarse. In laryngeal speakers, these features are most often associated with males. Because lower pitch and hoarseness are anticipated for male and female TE speakers, one might predict that females are at risk for being perceived as male. The purposes of this pilot study were to assess the reliability and accuracy of listeners' perceptions of TE speaker gender and to evaluate the relationship between gender ratings and masculinity-femininity ratings. Twenty-five naïve listeners rated the gender and the masculinity-femininity of 12 TE speakers from audio recordings of a reading passage. Listeners were able to reliably rate gender and masculinity-femininity. They accurately identified speaker gender at a high rate that was comparable for males and females. However, female speakers, despite being accurately identified as female, were at an elevated risk of being rated as masculine or neutral on the masculinity-femininity scale. LEARNING OUTCOMES: As a result of this activity, the participant will be able to: (1) describe the reliability and accuracy of listener perceptions of the gender and the degree of masculinity-femininity of TE speakers; and (2) discuss the relationship between TE speaker gender identification and masculinity-femininity ratings for males and females, respectively.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Magnitude and variability of oral pressure in tracheoesophageal speech.

The purpose of this study was to compare mean oral pressure (P(o)) and P(o) variability: (1) between tracheoesophageal (TE) and laryngeal speakers, and (2) between TE speakers' voiced and voiceless phonemes. Sixteen TE and 10 laryngeal speakers produced stops and fricatives in a phrase while P(o) was recorded. The TE group produced greater mean P(o) and P(o) variability than the control group. TE speakers did maintain a P(o) difference between cognate members with greater pressure on voiceless consonants. A number of possible explanations for the findings are reviewed, although clearer delineation of the issue will require further study.

Aged↗