Effects of Varying Lengths of Synthetic Speech Output on Augmented Requesting and Natural Speech Production in an Adolescent with Klinefelter Syndrome

Abstract

Students with developmental disabilities and limited or no functional speech often use speech-generating devices. While the speech-output function of such devices is considered to have potential advantages, it is unclear whether the length of synthetic speech output influences augmented communication and natural speech production. To this end, we describe a two-phase study involving an adolescent with Klinefelter syndrome. In Phase 1, the frequency of augmented requests and natural speech were compared under three speech-output conditions (no-output, short-output, and long-output). In Phase 2, augmented requests in the long-output condition were no longer reinforced to determine if this would increase natural speech production. The presence and length of speech output did not influence the frequency of augmented requesting or natural speech production in Phase 1, but extinction of augmented requesting under the long-output condition in Phase 2 was associated with a significant increase in natural speech production under that condition, relative to the two other conditions. The implications of these findings for using speech-generating devices are discussed.

Keywords::

• Augmentative and alternative communication
• iPod touch
• Klinefelter syndrome
• Natural speech production
• Requesting
• Speech-generating devices
• Synthetic speech output

Acknowledgements

Preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by the Marsden Fund Council from Government funding, administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand.

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

Notes

1. iMainGo2 is available from Portable Sound Laboratories, Van Nuys, CA, http://imaingo.com/company/contact-us/