An investigation of the English vowels of intelligible but non-normal profoundly deaf adult male speakers
Linda Rowe · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1982
The English vowels of ten intelligible but non-normal profoundly deaf adult male speakers were analyzed using computer techniques to determine ferment frequency values. Spectrographic analysis of the same data was compared to the computer analysis to assure that the computer techniques were applicable to the non-normal speech of deaf speakers. The acoustic data from the deaf speakers was compared to the same data obtained from normal hearing and speaking adult males. Upon completion of the initial research, it is likely that the deaf speakers will miss the acoustic vowel targets. It is reasonable to assume that the deaf speakers are not able to place their articulators accurately enough to achieve the correct targets, and that they are unable to correct the inaccurate articulator placement through auditory monitoring. It will be of interest to examine the relationship between the acoustic data and the physiological correlates and the impact this information should have on the remediation strategies used to improve the speech of profoundly deaf speakers.