Multiple phonetically trained-listener comparisons of speech before and after articulatory intervention in two children with repaired submucous cleft palate

ABSTRACT

Cleft Palate (CP) assessments based on phonetic transcription are the “gold standard” therapy outcome measure, despite reliability difficulties. Here we propose a novel perceptual evaluation, applied to ultrasound-visual biofeedback (U-VBF) therapy and therapy using visual articulatory models (VAMs) for two children with repaired submucous CP.

Three comparisons were made: post VAM, post U-VBF and overall pre- and post-therapy. Twenty-two phonetically-trained listeners were asked to determine whether pre- or post-therapy recordings sounded “closer to the English target”, using their own implicit phonological knowledge (prompted via orthographic representation). Results are compared with segment-oriented percent target consonant correct (PTCC) derived from phonetic transcriptions.

Listener judgements and PTCC suggest that both children made improvements using both VAM and U-VBF. Statistical analysis showed listener agreement in each comparison, though agreement was weak. However, perceptual evaluation offers a straightforward method of evaluating the effectiveness of interventions and can be used by phonetically trained or lay listeners.

KEYWORDS:

• Cleft palate
• perceptual speech evaluation
• ultrasound
• visual articulatory models

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to the participants: both the children and the phonetically trained listeners, for participating in the study. Thanks are also due to Gillian Cairns for assisting in recruitment of children, Eleanor Lawson for providing assistance with PRAAT, Robert Rush and Felix Schaeffler for statistical assistance and Steve Cowen and Alan Wrench for technical assistance.

Declaration of interest

This study was supported by a PhD Bursary at Queen Margaret University from 2011–2015.