The effects of speech pathologist acting on the radio speech of a visual disabled person

Abstract

Introduction: the speech pathologist is the professional involved in the improvement of speech with broadcasters, whose work encompasses aspects of orientation, training and development of voice and speech. Objective: To analyze the effects of a proposed speech therapy with a visually handicapped journalist. Case presentation: this is a case study, descriptive and qualitative, with the participation of a visually handicapped journalist, aged 32, who underwent an anamnesis, perceptual and acoustic voice analysis. To get the speech samples we use the vowels / a /, / i / and / u / sustained, and the fricatives / s / and / z / and connected speech. The greatest difficulty presented at that time was related to oral expression because he showed restricted vocal range and little mouth opening during articulation. Description of the therapeutic process: after the evaluation, he underwent eight individually thirty minute therapy sessions, once a week, with specific exercises for articulation, usual frequency, breathing and resonance as well as vocal range (expression), increasing extension and vocal dynamics. When the sessions were finished, the patient was evaluated again the same way as before. At the end of the process, there were improvements in the parameters addressed. Conclusion: We believe that more time is needed in therapy for a visually handicapped person because the voice improvement uses visual clues, like facial expressions and body image viewing and reading. It is necessary to use alternative strategies, in an adapted form, with emphasis on auditory and tactile features.