Stereotypes of People with Physical Disabilities and Speech Impairments as Detected by Partially Structured Attitude Measures

Partially Structured Attitude Measures (PSAMs) are non-reaction-time based measures of implicit attitudes. Participants’ attitudes are measured by the degree to which they react toward ambiguous stimuli. The authors developed a series of PSAMs to examine six stereotypes of people with disabilities: asexual, unappealing, isolated, dependent, entitled, and unemployable. In two studies, they found that PSAMs detected implicit endorsements of stereotypes toward people with a physical disability, speech impairment, or combination of the two. Compared to people without disabilities, stereotypes were endorsed for people with disabilities, with unappealing, dependent and unemployable being more prominent for physically disabled targets and dependent, entitled and isolated being more prominent for speech disabled targets. Implications for understanding the stereotyping of people with physical and speech disabilities are discussed.

The Use of Synthetic Speech in Language Learning Tools

This Chapter aims to bring up a discussion on the use of Computer Synthesized Speech (CSS) in the development of Computer-Aided Speech and Language Therapy (CASLT) tools for the improvement of the communication skills in handicapped individuals. CSS is strongly required in these tools for two reasons: Providing alternative communication to users with different impairments and reinforcing the correct pronunciation of words and sentences. Different possibilities have arisen for this goal, including pre-recorded audio, embedded Text-to-Speech (TTS) devices or talking faces. These possibilities are reviewed and the implications of their use with handicapped individuals are commented, showing the experience of the authors in the development of tools for Spanish speech therapy. Finally, a preliminary study in the use of computer-based tools for the teaching of Spanish to young children showed how the synthetic speech feature in the language learning tool was sufficient to maintain the possibilities of the tool as a valuable language teaching element in the absence of other visual elements.

Synthetic Speech Perception in Individuals with Intellectual and Communicative Disabilities

The purpose of this chapter is to review research conducted over the past two decades on the perception of synthetic speech by individuals with intellectual, language, and hearing impairments. Many individuals with little or no functional speech as a result of intellectual, language, physical, or multiple disabilities rely on non-speech communication systems to augment or replace natural speech. These systems include Speech Generating Devices (SGDs) that produce synthetic speech upon activation. Based on this review, the two main conclusions are evident. The first is that persons with intellectual and/or language impairment demonstrate greater difficulties in processing synthetic speech than their typical matched peers. The second conclusion is that repeated exposure to synthetic speech allows individuals with intellectual and/or language disabilities to identify synthetic speech with increased accuracy and speed. This finding is of clinical significance as it indicates that individuals who use SGDs become more proficient at understanding synthetic speech over a period of time.

A Tale of Transitions

Many aided communicators have used low-tech communication boards for extended periods of time when they receive a voice output device. Integrating sophisticated technology into conversational interactions draws on a range of skills for both the aided communicator and their speaking partners. A range of individual and environmental factors influences the transition from low-tech to hi-tech communication aids. This chapter considers the impact of these factors on intervention and the developmental course of two individuals, Niall and Cara. The potential benefits of synthetic speech are clearly illustrated in the stories of Niall and Cara and by the literature. However, the scaffolding needed to support effective use of voice output must be carefully constructed, if these benefits are to be realized in ways that lead to genuine social inclusion and to meaningful, positive changes in the communication experiences of aided communicators.

Systematic Review of Speech Generating Devices for Aphasia

The purpose of this chapter is to integrate and synthesize, using a meta-analytic approach, the research literature on the effectiveness of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) intervention using speech generating devices (SGDs) for people with aphasia. Many individuals with little or no functional speech as a result of severe aphasia rely on non-speech communication systems to augment or replace natural speech. These systems include SGDs and software programs that produce synthetic speech upon activation. Based on this quantitative review, the following conclusions are evident. The first is that the existing state of knowledge on whether AAC interventions using SGDs work for people with aphasia is seriously affected not only because of the lack of data but also because most of the available data are compromised because of serious internal validity concerns. Keeping in mind this first conclusion as a context, the second conclusion is that AAC intervention options that utilize SGDs seem to be effective in changing the dependent variables in the experimental contexts. However, the variability among dependent measures across studies and of results within and across studies precludes meta-analytic techniques. Thus, any statements as to the effectiveness of AAC interventions using SGDs for persons with aphasia cannot be made yet.

Attitudes toward Computer Synthesized Speech

This chapter reviews an emerging area of research that focuses on the attitudes and social perceptions that people have toward users of computer synthesized speech (CSS). General attitudes toward people with speech impairments and AAC users are briefly discussed. Recent research on people’s attitudes toward speaking computers is reviewed, with the emphasis on the similarity in the way that people treat computers and humans. The research on attitudes toward CSS and whether persuasive appeals conveyed through CSS indicates that, in general, people view CSS less favorably than natural human speech. However, this tendency is reversed when people know that the user is speech impaired. It also appears that people’s attitudes are modified by the situation which CSS is used for. Overall, the findings present an intriguing perspective on attitudes toward people with speech impairments who use CSS and will serve to stimulate further research in this area.

Tossed in the Deep End

The purpose of this chapter is to minimize the shock and stigma of adding device users to a caseload in a school, medical, or rehabilitation setting. To this end, the author gives four strategic rules for adapting the device to the therapy setting as well as four additional strategies for improving carryover into activities of daily living, the classroom, and other settings with caregivers and loved ones. To illustrate each of these strategies, the case of Corey, an adult AAC device user, is presented. His case highlights the need for clinicians and support staff to work together towards the common goal of improving communication through the use of the computerized speech output device.

Are Speech-Generating Devices Viable AAC Options for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities?

Many adults with intellectual disabilities have severe communication impairments and are therefore potential candidates for the use of speech-generating technologies. However, there may be reluctance to prescribe speech-generating devices for adults with intellectual disabilities in the absence of evidence demonstrating that such persons are capable of learning and interested in using this technology. In this chapter, the authors provide an overview of intellectual disability and the use of speech-generating technologies for adults with intellectual disability. This overview is followed by a systematic review of intervention studies that have sought to teach the use of speech-generating technologies to adults with intellectual disability. An overview and review of this type may help to inform and advance evidence-based practice in the provision of communication intervention for adults with intellectual disability.

Humanizing Vox Artificialis

In this chapter, the authors will discuss the use of speech synthesis as a human communication tool in what is now referred to as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). The authors will describe the history and use of speech synthesis in AAC, relevant stakeholders, a framework for evaluating speech synthesis in AAC and relevant research and development with respect to intelligibility, comprehension, social interaction, emotional expressivity and personal identity potential of current implementations of speech synthesis into SGD technologies. Throughout the chapter recommendations will be made for making SGDs more effective and appropriate for social interaction and emotional expression. This chapter will also provide 1st person accounts of relating to SGD use in order to provide a stakeholder perspective.

Speech Technologies for Augmented Communication

The authors introduce here an emerging technological and scientific field. Augmented speech communication (ASC) aims at supplementing human-human communication with enhanced or additional modalities. ASC improves human-human communication by exploiting a priori knowledge on multimodal coherence of speech signals, user/listener voice characteristics or more general linguistic and phonological structure on the spoken language or vocabulary being exchanged. The nature of this a priori knowledge, the quantitative models that implement it and their capabilities to enhance the available input signals influence the precision and robustness of the perceived signals. After a general overview of the possible input signals characterizing speech production activity and available technologies for mapping these various speech representations between each other, three ASC systems developed at GIPSA-Lab are described in detail. Preliminary results of the evaluation of these three systems will be given and commented. A discussion on scientific and technological challenges and limitations of ASC concludes the chapter.