Speech training aids for hearing-impaired individuals: I. Overview and aims

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Prelingual profound deafness often leads to unintelligible speech.
• Electronic speech training aids have historically had limited success.
• Recent advances in computing and signal processing enable new solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review characteristics of deaf speech.
• To describe current computer-based speech training aids.
• To introduce novel speech training aids developed through collaboration.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of deaf speech characteristics.
• Survey of existing computer-based speech training technologies.
• Description of two new interrelated speech training aids.

Main Results:

• Deaf speech exhibits specific aberrant characteristics.
• Several computer-based aids are currently available.
• Two new collaborative aids are presented.

Conclusions:

• Technological progress is improving speech training for the deaf.
• Collaborative development can lead to effective new tools.
• Further research and development in this area are ongoing.