Frequency, Duration, and Perceptual Measures in Relation to Judgments of Alaryngeal Speech Acceptability

Abstract

Thirty-three recordings of laryngectomized speakers reading a standard passage were subjected to two separate perceptual evaluations and to fundamental frequency and durational analysis. Factors related to higher speech acceptability ratings include: (1) a rapid rate of speech production, (2) little perception of respiratory noise, and (3) a relatively higher mean fundamental frequency. The most invariant of the factors measured were respiratory noise prominence and fundamental frequency SD. It was apparent that naive listeners tended to rate alaryngeal speakers higher as the speaker approached the norms for normal laryngeal speakers.