Speech Generating Devices and Modality of Short-term Word Storage

Abstract

Persons with severe speech impairments frequently communicate via non-speech means, such as speech-generating devices (SGDs). In studies of people without disabilities, use of non-speech responses has activated non-phonological modalities for short-term word storage. In the current study, short-term word storage was evaluated in 23 pre-trained adult speakers without disabilities and in four individuals who use SGDs for communication. Results indicated that participants without disabilities stored lists of words phonologically when using SGDs. Individuals who used SGDs were most successful in recall of high- frequency words, with preliminary evidence of phonological encoding for short-term storage in preparation for non-speech responses. Further research is needed to describe possible concurrent storage modalities.

Keywords::

• Phonological short-term memory
• Subvocal rehearsal
• Working memory
• Motor planning

Notes

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the participants for their collaboration in the study. The research reported in this article was conducted in partial fulfillment of the first author’s doctoral degree and would not have been possible without the mentoring and support of her doctoral committee, especially Susanne Gahl and Martine Smith. With gratitude.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Notes

1. The Vantage Lite is an SGD available from the Prentke Romich Company (2012), Wooster, OH.

2. Unity software is available from the Prentke Romich, Wooster, OH.

3. Wordpower software (2011) is available form Inman Innovations, Inc., Baltimore, MD.

4. Delta Talker, Pathfinder Plus, and ECO2 are products of the Prentke Romich Company, Wooster, OH.