Avaliação da voz e fala de surdos após a aplicação de um procedimento terapêutico computadorizado

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate deaf people’s voice after the application of a specific therapeutic procedure with visual feedback concerning the fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, and phonation time. Method: 18 deaf subjects, male and female, ranging in age from 12 to 17 years old, users of hearing aid in at least one ear and with a minimum mastery of the oral code, took part in this research. The subjects were enrolled in regular schools and in special schools for the deaf, and were divided in two groups: Control(CG) and Therapeutic(TG). Both groups had the fundamental frequency assessed through the Voxmetria® software, and the phonation time of /a/,/i/,/u/,/s/ e /z/. This assessment provided information regarding the subjects’ voice and speech and was named pre-therapy. Next, the TG underwent 16 sessions where the “Voice Games”was used monitored by computerized resources, aiming to improve articulation and vocal pattern. At the end of the program a new assessment was performed with both groups, and two months later the same procedure was repeated in order to verify whether or not the stimulated aspects were maintained. For the statistical analysis, the Variance Analysis test was used. Results: The statistically significant findings showed that subjects from TG presented a reduction of the modal and maximum fundamental frequency, of the jitter and shimmer, and an increase of the phonation time of prolonged vowels and fricative sounds. Conclusion: It was concluded that the visual support of oral production offered during the therapeutic procedure was highly relevant.