Patent ID: 6662162
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of identifying speech motor dysfunction in a test subject comprising:measuring one or more acoustic parameters of one or more prosodic conditions; comparing each acoustic parameter between pairs of prosodic conditions to obtain a contrast value; and comparing the contrast values for each acoustic parameter to contrast values of a normal subject, wherein a difference in contrast values between the test subject and the normal subject is correlated to speech motor dysfunction; and wherein the contrast values are compared using the equation (Test: (+pf+a)âˆ’(âˆ’pf+a)âˆ’Control: (+pf+a)âˆ’(âˆ’pf+a))2+(Test: (âˆ’pf+a)âˆ’(âˆ’pfâˆ’a)âˆ’Control: (âˆ’pf+a)âˆ’(âˆ’pfâˆ’a))2+(Test: (+n+a)âˆ’(âˆ’nâˆ’a)âˆ’Control: (+n+a)âˆ’(âˆ’nâˆ’a))2+(Test: (âˆ’nâˆ’a)âˆ’(red)âˆ’Control: (âˆ’nâˆ’a)âˆ’(red))2 â€ƒwherein +pf+a =accented syllables in phrase final;âˆ’pf+a =accented syllables in non-phrase final;âˆ’pfâˆ’a =unaccented syllables in non phrase final;+n+a =nuclear accented;âˆ’nâˆ’a =post-nuclear unaccented syllables; andred =reduced CVC syllables.Test =subjectControl =control.