The Effect of Singing Instruction on the Speech Production of Neurologically Impaired Persons

Abstract

This study examined the effect of singing instruction upon the speech production of eight neurologically impaired adults with expressive speech disorders. A series of single case studies, each using a repeated measures design, was implemented to determine if the application of singing instruction would change the speaking fundamental frequency or improve the speaking fundamental frequency variability, vocal intensity, rate of speech or verbal intelligibility of the subjects. Pretest, probe, and posttest speech samples were obtained from each subject. Six subjects received the singing instruction three times a week, 30 minutes a session, for 3 consecutive weeks. To provide comparison, two control subjects were administered the pretest, probe sample, and posttest measures without the singing instruction. An examination of the data revealed that 67% of the treatment subjects made improvements in speaking fundamental frequency variability, rate of speech, and verbal intelligibility, while the two control subjects did not consistently improve in any of the speech variables. The speaking fundamental frequency of the subjects did not appear to be influenced by the singing instruction.