Ultrasound as a Visual Feedback Aid for the Hearing-Impaired

Abstract

Ultrasound was explored as a visual feedback aid to assist in improving the speech of the deaf and hard of hearing. A mechanical sector real-time scanner produced images of the volunteer's tongue while a speech pathologist provided therapeutic intervention. Pre and postarticulation tests were administered to evaluate change in speech. Ultrasound as a visual feedback aid may be potentially useful for improving articulation problems for some hearing-impaired speakers. Further research with this population needs to be carried out to explore the practicality of using ultrasound as a visual feedback aid and to gather quantitative data on the long-term effects of learning. This study has demonstrated that typical real-time sector ultrasound scanners, of the type found in the field today, can be modified to produce useful images of the human tongue during speech production. It is yet unknown what specific type of scanner as well as frequency range is best suited for tongue placement imaging. © 1990, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.