Effects of Speech Supplementation Strategies on Intelligibility and Listener Attitudes for a Speaker with Mild Dysarthria

Speech supplementation strategies (alphabet cues, topic cues, and combined topic and alphabet cues) have been shown to have a positive effect on speech intelligibility for many individuals with dysarthria, particularly those with severe and profound intelligibility deficits (Hustad, Auker, Natale, & Carlson, 2003a; Hustad, Jones, & Dailey, 2003b). However, less attention has been given to speakers with moderate and mild intelligibility problems; therefore, the effects of speech supplementation strategies are largely unknown for these individuals. The present study examined the effects of speech supplementation strategies on intelligibility scores and listener attitudes for one speaker with mild spastic dysarthria secondary to cerebral palsy. Results showed different findings from previous studies. In the present study, the only speech supplementation strategy that significantly increased intelligibility was alphabet cues. Attitude ratings for each strategy followed a different pattern than intelligibility scores. Results suggest that severity of dysarthria may play an important role in deciding which speech supplementation strategy to use.