Speech Amplification Device Usage in Hypophonia: Spontaneous Speech Intelligibility.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Speech Amplification Device Usage in Hypophonia: Spontaneous Speech Intelligibility.
Authors:	Knowles, Thea¹ thea@msu.edu, Ramani, Sai Aishwarya¹, Castillo-Allendes, Adrián^1,2, Page, Allyson^3,4, Jog, Mandar⁵, Adamsc, Scott G.^4,5
Source:	American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. May2026, Vol. 35 Issue 3, p1119-1135. 17p.
Subject Terms:	Data analysis, Voice disorders, Intelligibility of speech, Audiometry, Simulation methods in education, Visual perception, *Psychological tests, Statistical models, Noise, Task performance, Questionnaires, Spouses, Parkinson's disease, Voice disorder treatment, Assistive listening systems, Parkinsonian disorders, Mean length of utterance, Statistics, Calibration, Data analysis software, Confidence intervals, Transducers
Abstract:	Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of three different types of speech amplification devices on spontaneous speech intelligibility of people with hypophonia secondary to Parkinson's disease or parkinsonism. Method: Twenty-one individuals with hypophonia described pictures aloud to their primary communication partner in four device and two noise conditions. Device conditions included no device, a portable wired speech amplifier, a wireless stationary amplifier, and a one-way personal communication system. Noise conditions included quiet and 65-dB multitalker background noise. Speech intelligibility was evaluated from the perspective of two listener groups, familiar communication partners and naive listeners, as a function of device type and noise. Results: Overall, all three devices were associated with improved intelligibility, especially in noise and for longer utterances for both listener groups. Intelligibility was highest for the personal communication system and lowest for the portable wired amplifier. These results for spontaneous speech patterned similarly to those for read sentences reported for these same talkers and listeners in Knowles et al. (2020). Conclusions: Speech amplification devices demonstrate measurable improvements in intelligibility of spontaneous speech in individuals with hypophonia. Findings add to a growing body of evidence of the potential effectiveness of speech amplification as a management tool for hypophonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Education Research Complete

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Abstract:	Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of three different types of speech amplification devices on spontaneous speech intelligibility of people with hypophonia secondary to Parkinson's disease or parkinsonism. Method: Twenty-one individuals with hypophonia described pictures aloud to their primary communication partner in four device and two noise conditions. Device conditions included no device, a portable wired speech amplifier, a wireless stationary amplifier, and a one-way personal communication system. Noise conditions included quiet and 65-dB multitalker background noise. Speech intelligibility was evaluated from the perspective of two listener groups, familiar communication partners and naive listeners, as a function of device type and noise. Results: Overall, all three devices were associated with improved intelligibility, especially in noise and for longer utterances for both listener groups. Intelligibility was highest for the personal communication system and lowest for the portable wired amplifier. These results for spontaneous speech patterned similarly to those for read sentences reported for these same talkers and listeners in Knowles et al. (2020). Conclusions: Speech amplification devices demonstrate measurable improvements in intelligibility of spontaneous speech in individuals with hypophonia. Findings add to a growing body of evidence of the potential effectiveness of speech amplification as a management tool for hypophonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	10580360
DOI:	10.1044/2026_AJSLP-24-00435