As a practitioner dedicated to creating great outcomes for children, understanding the latest research and how to apply it is crucial. A recent study titled "Listener Ratings of Effort, Speech Intelligibility, and Loudness of Individuals with Parkinson's Disease and Hypophonia" provides valuable insights into how background noise affects speech intelligibility and listener effort. This blog aims to help you implement these findings in your practice to improve the communication abilities of children with Parkinson's disease.
Key Findings from the Study
The study explored how multi-talker background noise impacts listener ratings of effort, sentence intelligibility, and perceived speech loudness in individuals with Parkinson's disease and hypophonia. Here are the main takeaways:
- Individuals with Parkinson's disease were rated to have less intense speech and reduced sentence intelligibility.
- Listeners reported significantly higher ratings of effort in background noise conditions.
- There is a strong correlation between reduced loudness and increased listener effort, especially in noisy environments.
Implementing Research Outcomes in Practice
To create better communication outcomes for children with Parkinson's disease, consider the following strategies based on the study's findings:
- Monitor Background Noise: Minimize background noise during therapy sessions to reduce listener effort and improve speech intelligibility.
- Use Visual and Auditory Feedback: Employ tools that provide real-time feedback on speech loudness to help children adjust their speech intensity.
- Educate Families: Inform families about the importance of quiet environments for effective communication and encourage them to apply these principles at home.
Encouraging Further Research
While the study provides valuable insights, further research is needed to explore the relationship between speech intelligibility, perceived speech loudness, and listener effort in different environments. As practitioners, staying updated with the latest research and continuously applying new findings can significantly enhance the quality of therapy provided.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Listener Ratings of Effort, Speech Intelligibility, and Loudness of Individuals with Parkinson's Disease and Hypophonia.
