The effects of feedback on the speech motor task of simulating hypernasality

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of feedback on the learning of a novel speech task: simulating hypernasality. Forty participants (20 male, 20 female; age range 18-35 years) were randomly assigned into four groups, receiving different combinations of feedback type (visual or verbal) and relative frequency of knowledge of results (100% or 50%). The participants practiced hypernasal production of syllables, words and a passage during acquisition. Their performances at baseline, immediate retention, delayed retention and transfer were assessed with three different types of connected speech stimuli. The results showed that learning was took place in all feedback conditions. However, no significant difference was found across different feedback type and feedback frequency. The findings indicated that velopharyngeal closure during speech can be controlled voluntarily upon practice with appropriate feedback rendered. The findings also shed light on the treatment of hypernasality and on speech motor learning.