The Impact of Telepractice on Voice Production in Normal Hearing Children

Authors

Rachael Walsh, University of LouisvilleFollow
Yesenia Rodriguez Cruz, University of LouisvilleFollow
Maria Kondaurova, University of LouisvilleFollow

Program/Event

Undergraduate Arts and Research Showcase 2024

Abstract

Telepractice is a growing service model that delivers aural rehabilitation services to deaf and hard of hearing children at a distance via telecommunications technology. Research suggests that when there is a physical barrier in communication there is an increase in vocal effort in children with and without hearing loss. The aim of the current study is to examine the effect of telepractice on voice production in normal-hearing (NH) children to enhance intervention effectiveness. Ten normal-hearing children (mean age = 10.4 years, age range 8-12 years) came to participate in four sessions, 2 in-person and 2 tele, order counterbalanced. Each session lasted 30 minutes. During in-person sessions, children and the experimenter sat opposite each other at the table. During tele sessions, children sat at a table in a soundproof booth before a laptop while the experimenter sat at a table outside the booth before a desktop. At each session the experimenter asked the child to count from 1 to 25, read 10 words and 10 sentences and describe a picture. All sessions were audio and video recorded. F0 mean [Hz], F0 range [Hz] and intensity [dB SPL] were measured in each child utterance. The results demonstrated that children produced a significantly higher F0 mean, a less expanded F0 range, and a higher intensity in tele compared to in person sessions. F0 range was significantly more expanded in sentence and picture tasks compared to count and word tasks across sessions. Intensity was more expanded in picture, sentence, and word tasks compared to count task across sessions. The results suggest that vocal characteristics in school-aged normal hearing children were affected when using remote compared to in person communication. This may impact the telepractice delivery of aural rehabilitation services in pediatric populations with and without hearing loss.

Recommended Citation

Walsh, Rachael; Rodriguez Cruz, Yesenia; and Kondaurova, Maria (2024) "The Impact of Telepractice on Voice Production in Normal Hearing Children," The Cardinal Edge: Vol. 2: Iss. 2, Article 11.
Available at: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/tce/vol2/iss2/11