Effects of Synthetic Speech Output in the Learning of Graphic Symbols of Varied Iconicity
By Koul, Rajinder K.; Schlosser, Ralf W.; Disability and Rehabilitation, Vol. 26, No. 21, pp. 1278-1285Publication Date: November 2004
Study conducted to examine the effects of additional auditory feedback from synthetic speech on the participants’ learning of high translucent symbols (symbols resemble the assigned name) versus low translucent symbols (the relationship between the symbol and the symbol’s name is somewhat vague). Two adults with severe intellectual disabilities and little or no functional speech participated in the study. A single-subject design was used to determine the effects of symbol training with and without synthetic speech output. Talking Screen software with a DECTalk synthesizer was used in order to provide synthetic speech output, while Picture Communication Symbols were used for graphic symbols. The results indicated that both participants learned low translucent symbols at a higher rate during the speech output condition. The authors contend that feedback from speech output could help adults with severe intellectual disabilities in learning low translucent symbols.
Assistive Products Discussed: DECTALK ACCESS 32
PICTURE COMMUNICATION SYMBOLS BOOK I, II, III & PICTURE COMMUNICATION SYMBOLS COMPLETE SET
Published by: Taylor & Francis, Limited (Website:http://taylorandfrancis.org)
International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (Web Site: http://www.isprm.org )
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J48458
