Changes in acoustic characteristics of /r/ following production training using electropalatography (EPG)

Abstract

Visual feedback using electropalatography (EPG) is an effective method for changing production of speech sounds in children. Differences in tongue placement and general acceptability of production have been demonstrated with EPG training for tongue to palate contact. Little is known, however, about changes in the spectral characteristics of speech sounds following training. The current study examined pre and post EPG patterns for /r/ in prevocalic, intervocalic, and postvocalic positions in sentences with five weeks of intensive EPG training. In particular, spectral characteristics of /r/ were examined for differences pre and post treatment. Subjects were four children (aged 9–10). These children exhibited distorted /r/ despite several years of traditional speech therapy but learned to produce perceptually acceptable /r/ with EPG. Spectral characteristics for /r/ productions in the same sentences by four typically developing children were used for comparison. Differences will be discussed in terms of acoustic characteristics as well as changes in tongue position.