This study investigated the effects of altered auditory feedback on stuttering frequency during speech production at two different speech rates, Nine stutterers, who exhibited at least 5% dysfluency during a reading task, served as subjects. They read eight different passages (each 300 syllables in length) while receiving four conditions of auditory feedback: nonaltered, masking, delayed, and frequency altered. For each auditory feedback condition, subjects read at both a normal and a fast rate. Results indicated that stuttering frequency was significantly decreased during conditions of delayed and frequency altered auditory feedback at both speech rates (p < 0.05). These findings refute the notion that a slowed speech rate is necessary for fluency enhancement under conditions of altered auditory feedback. Considering previous research and the results of this study, it is proposed that there may be two interdependent factors that are responsible for fluency enhancement: alteration of auditory feedback and modification of speech production.

This study investigated the effect of short and long auditory feedback delays at two speech rates with normal speakers. Seventeen participants spoke under delayed auditory feedback (DAF) at 0, 25, 50, and 200 ms at normal and fast rates of speech. Significantly two to three times more dysfluencies were displayed at 200 ms (p<0.05) relative to no delay or the shorter delays. There were significantly more dysfluencies observed at the fast rate of speech (p = 0.028). These findings implicate the peripheral feedback system(s) of fluent speakers for the disruptive effects of DAF on normal speech production at long auditory feedback delays. Considering the contrast in fluency/dysfluency exhibited between normal speakers and those who stutter at short and long delays, it appears that speech disruption of normal speakers under DAF is a poor analog of stuttering.

The primary purpose of this study was to determine i f the finding of Kalinowski et al. (1993) of dramatic reductions in stuttering under delayed auditory feedback (DAF) at normal and fast speech rates could be replicated. The second purpose was to determine if stuttering frequency is differentially affected by various delays in an attempt to identify the optimal delay for fluency enhancement for both normal and fast speech rates. Fourteen adult stutterers read eight different passages at either a normal or fast speech rate under non-altered auditory feedback (NAF) and D A F with delays of 25, 50 and 75 ms. Results showed that significant fluency enhancement occurred under DAF at both normal and fast speech rates at all D A F settings (p<0.05). This finding corroborates the notion that a slowed rate of speech is not a necessary antecedent for fluency improvement under conditions of altered auditory feedback. In addition, the results indicated that 50 ms appears to be the shortest delay producing the maximum reduction in stuttering frequency.Le but principal de cette ktude est de dkterminer s'il est possible de reproduire les rksultats spectaculaires de Kalinowski et al. (1993) en matiire de rkduction du bkgaiement quand le feedback acoustique est retard6 (DAF) lors de vitesses d'klocution normale et accklkrte. L'autre but est de dkterminer si la frkquence de bkgaiement est affectke diversement selon les retards de feedback, afin de trouver le retard qui amkliore le mieux la fluidite' d' klocution 6 des vitesses normale et accklkrke. Quatorze adultes bigues ont lu huit passages diffkrents d vitesses normale ou accklkrke,sous feedback acoustique non modifik (NAF) ou sous DAF avec des retards de 25, 50 et 75 ms. Les rtsultats ont montrk qu'a vitesses normale et acctlkrke, et quel que soit le rtglage du retard, une amdioration significative se produisait sous DAF (p < 0,OS). Ces rksultats confirment la notion qu'il n'est pas nkcessaire d'utiliser une vitesse plus faible pour amkliorer la fluiditk d'klocution quand on se sert de feedback acoustique modifik. De plus, il semble qu'il faut un retard d'au moins 50 ms pour rkduire au maximum la frkquence des bkgaiements. Das primare Ziel dieser Studie war es, festzustellen, ob der Befund von Kalinowski et al. (1993), dalj sich das Stottern unter verzogerter auditiver Riickkopplung (DAF = Delayed Auditory Feedback) bei normalem und schnellem Sprechtempo dramatisch reduziert, zu replizieren sei. Der z weite Zweck war es, festzustellen, ob die Haufigkeit des Stotterns durch die Verzogerungsdauer unterschiedlich beeinfluljt wird, um eine optimale Verzogerungsdauer fiir die Verbesserung des Sprechflusses sowohl fiir normales als auch fiir schnelles Sprechtempo zu identifizieren. Viertehn erwachsene Stotterer lasen acht verschiedene Texte entweder rnit normalem oder rnit schnellem Sprechtempo bei unveranderter auditiver Riickkopplung oder bei DAF-Werten von 25, 50 und 75 ms. Ein signifikant verbesserter Sprechflulj wurde bei allem DAF-Werten f u r normales und schnelles Sprechen...

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