Stuart I. Ritterman

Temporal and perceptual characteristics of tracheoesophageal voice

This study compared the temporal and perceptual characteristics of tracheoesophageal voice produced in four different prosthetic/occlusion conditions: 1. using the Blom‐Singer duckbill prosthesis and digital occlusion of the tracheostoma; 2. using the Blom‐Singer duckbill prosthesis and valve occlusion of the tracheostoma; 3. using the Blom‐Singer low‐pressure prosthesis and digital occlusion of the tracheostoma; and 4. using the Blom‐Singer low‐pressure prosthesis and valve occlusion of the tracheostoma. Characteristics of speech produced in each condition were also compared to those of normal speech. Results revealed significant differences between normal speech and tracheoesophageal speech (in all prosthetic/occlusion conditions) for several temporal and perceptual parameters. In addition, important trends were noted among tracheoesophageal prosthetic/occlusion conditions.

Perceptual characteristics of tracheoesophageal voice produced using four prosthetic/occlusion combinations.

This study examined and compared perceptual characteristics of tracheoesophageal (TE) voice produced using four different prosthetic/occlusion combinations in 15 tracheoesophageal speakers: 1. using the Blom‐Singer duckbill prosthesis and digital occlusion of the tracheostoma; 2. using the Blom‐Singer duckbill prosthesis and valve occlusion of the tracheostoma; 3. using the Blom‐Singer low‐pressure prosthesis and digital occlusion of the tracheostoma; and 4. using the Blom‐Singer low‐pressure prosthesis and valve occlusion of the tracheostoma. Characteristics of speech produced in each condition were also compared to those of 19 normal speakers. Differences in perceptual ratings made by judges who varied in knowledge about laryngectomees were examined. Results revealed a number of speaking parameters that discriminated among normals and the four TE speaking conditions, and that differed according to the judges expertise level. Clinical implications are emphasized.

Postnatal Palatoplasty, Implications For Normal Speech Articulation—A Preliminary Report

During the last ten years patients born with cleft palates had their palates closed between three and eight months of age. The primary objective has been to have the clefts closed soon to minimize faulty habits of speech articulation and intraoral, oropharyngeal and laryngeal compensatory movements for speech. Over one hundred ninety patients with a variety of cleft types were treated. Of these patients, twenty-two were randomly selected for complete and comprehensive evaluation one to eight years after the corrective procedure. Oro-nasal balance of articulatory resonance was noted. There was not any need for secondary palatal procedures in any of the patients, and no deleterious effects on facial growth were found. Normal articulation development was observed in all the patients treated by this methodology as measured by a standardized test and developmental norms.

Prolactin and LH release induced by kainic acid administration within the preoptic-suprachiasmatic region in behaving male rats

SummaryAdult male rats were chronically implanted with a multiple metal cannula assembly to allow for the administration of kainic acid within the POA-SCH region. Kainic acid was applied in its solid form at two dose levels: 2 μg and 4 μg. A chronic heart cannula implanted through the external jugular vein allowed for sequential blood sampling. Animals were subjected to two different regimes, with 2–3 days difference, one in which blood sampling took place without kainic acid administration, and a second one in which the drug was administered after a first, control sample was obtained. Administration of kainic acid at both dose levels induced motor hyperactivity that lasted for more than 1 h in the group that received the higher dose. Prolactin concentration in plasma rose by 30 min and declined thereafter in the “low” dose group, or remained high for at least 90 min in the “high” dose group. LH levels increased significantly only after administration of the “high” dose. These results are indicative of the presence of facilitatory elements for the release of prolactin (and LH) which originate within the POA-SCH region, probably involving glutamatergic receptors. Stimulation of these elements, rather than passing fibers, are probably responsible for the observed hormonal results.

The effects of response contingent reinforcement and response contingent punishment upon the frequency of stuttered verbal behavior

Abstract Twelve adult subjects, 4 in each experimental condition, were exposed to 2 punishment contingencies and 1 punishment and reinforcement combined contingency, under a procedure of stimulus control. Results indicated all 3 conditions to be equally effective in the reduction of stuttering frequency. Spontaneous recovery during stimulus control segments was not observed following any of the three experimental contingencies. Implications for research and therapy are discussed.

Measurement and comparison of anxiety levels of parents of stuttering, articulatory defective, and normal-speaking children

Abstract This study was conducted to determine whether or not parents of stutterers are generally more anxious than parents of nonstutterers. In addition, the situational anxiety attendant upon the viewing of their own children was compared with that of parents of articulatory defective and normal-speaking children. Seven sets of parents of stutterers, articulatory defective, and normal speaking children ( N = 42) were administered the A-Trait measure of the Self-Evaluation Questionnaire (Spielberger et al., 1965) before and after viewing videotapes of their own chilg and a child of each of the two other groups. Results indicating that parents of stuttering children exhibit more situational anxiety than parents in either of the other two groups are discussed in terms of their clinical implications.

Inter-digital variability in the palmer sweat indices of adult stutterers

Abstract This study examined the relationship of mean palmar sweat density of all fingers of each hand, thumbs excluded, to asymetrical interdigital sweat variability in adult stutterers. In addition, the relationship of mean print density to part word repetitions and prolongations was investigated. A modification of the palmar sweat printer developed by Brutten (1957) enabling the accommodation of eight fingers, was employed to obtain simultaneous PSI under identical controlled conditions for all fingers. Results indicated that the eight fingers are not reliable areas for the determination of palmar sweating in adult stutterers. Consequently, the PSI as it is currently employed, as well as the method used in the present study, does not appear to be an acceptable objective measure of ANS arousal in adult stutterers.

Therapist habituation and purported client progress in articulation therapy

Ten graduate student clinicians, in their final year of training, evaluated the tape recorded pretherapy performances of 10 /s/-defective children on the 68 /s/ items of the McDonald Deep Test of Articulation (1964). Five of the 10 clinicians were randomly selected and assigned one of these /s/-defective children as part of their regular case load. The children were seen for 1 hr per week for a 5-week period. The clinicians were not informed as to the nature of the study or that the composition of their case load was in any way connected with the tapes that they had previously evaluated. The five remaining clinicians and children did not participate in therapy during this 5-week period. Immediately following this 5-week period, an additional tape recording was made of all 10 childrens responses to the /s/ items of the McDonald Deep Test (1964). Both pre- and posttreatment tapes were then evaluated by all 10 clinicians in independent listening sessions. Significant between-tape differences, indicative of both habituation and sensitization to client errors within the in-therapy clinicians only, are discussed in terms of their clinical applications.