Understanding acceptability of disordered speech through Audience Response Systems-based evaluation

Abstract Purpose We explore the validity and reliability of an Audience Response Systems (ARS)-based measure of acceptability, applied to speech produced by children with speech sound disorder (SSD). We further explore how the suggested measure relates to an ARS-based measure of intelligibility. Finally, we explore potential differences between speech-language pathologists (SLPs), untrained adults, and children in their assessments. Method Fifty-three listeners participated in ARS-based assessments of acceptability and intelligibility: 19 SLPs, 18 untrained adults, and 16 children (aged 6-10 years). The listeners assessed speech samples collected from 14 children with SSD and 2 children with typical speech. The validity of the ARS-based acceptability measure was investigated through correlation analyses with reference to rating-based acceptability, as well as to measures of intelligibility and speech proficiency. Results The ARS-based acceptability measure correlated strongly with all assumed related measures. Listeners reacted more often to affected acceptability than to unintelligibility. Child listeners reacted less frequently to acceptability disruption than the SLPs and untrained adults. Conclusions ARS-based assessment of acceptability provides a valid and reliable measure of acceptability. The ARS-based methodology captures an anticipated pattern where listeners react more often to disruptions of acceptability than to unintelligibility. Children appear less sensitive to traits signaling SSD than SLPs and other adults are; however, replication is required to establish this for sure.