VSA

The Visual Speech Apparatus

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The Visual Speech Apparatus is an aid for developing basic speech skills. Although originally developed to facilitate speech development in deaf children, it can also be used for non-deaf children with impaired speech motor control.

As the name implies the Visual Speech Apparatus uses visual displays to help the child form an idea of the basic qualities of speech (pitch, loudness, timbre) and to assist the child in learning to produce these qualities correctly in vocal utterances. Appealing computer games controlled by different aspects of the child’s speech introduce the qualities one by one. By playing these games the child gradually gains an understanding of how the different qualities are used in speech and thus acquire the basic speech skills. The system is designed to be used by the child in interaction with a speech therapist who determines the type and sequence of the exercises. The system has the option to be used in a ‘homework’ mode in which the child practices pre-selected exercises without the guidance of the therapist.

The device has the following features:

great flexibility in adapting exercises to the individual needs of the pupil,
ease in use with just a one-screen menu,
storage on a separate diskette for each pupil of the individually tailored exercises and performance data,
the possibility to show learning curves to evaluate the pupil’s progress,
a delayed feedback option to help in transferring the acquired skill to the normal situation, and
the homework option, already mentioned.

A brief description of the exercises on the Visual Speech Apparatus

Sound production

To learn the distinction between voice an unvoiced sounds
To sustain a voiced or unvoiced sound
To produce a pattern of voiced and unvoiced sounds alternated with silent pauses

Loudness control

To acquire the concept of loudness
To acquire a normal range of loudness
To explore and use the full range of loudness
To produce a loudness change in a certain direction
To acquire three categories of loudness (soft, normal, loud)

Pitch control

To acquire the concept of pitch
To acquire a normal range of pitch
To explore and use the entire pitch range
To produce upward and downward pitch movements
To acquire three pitch categories (low, medium, high)
To produce simple and complex pitch contours
To imitate pitch contours produced by the teacher (within the child’s pitch range

Vowels

To acquire control of the two main vowel dimensions: openness and tongue position
To acquire an internal representation of the different vowels in the vowel space
To acquire a correct pronunciation of the various vowels

Nasality

To learn control nasality

Voice quality

To correct voice quality deviations

Images of the Visual Speech Apparatus 3.0

Flow chart of the main processes in Visual Speech Apparatus 3.0

VSA3

User interface visual Speech Apparatus 3.0

VSA4

Examples of acoustical displays

VSA5

Examples of exercises for loudness and pitch control and for vowel discrimination