A photophonographic analysis of the vocal disturbances in stuttering.

Abstract

Bryng BryngelsonI. Introduction. It is usually conceded that the manifestations of stuttering offer certain clues in regard to the nature of the disturbance. It is also generally conceded that many symptoms of stuttering are not detectable by direct observation. Therefore a study in which refined methods are used to detect and record more subtle evidences of disturbances in the functioning of the speech mechanism during stuttering might be valuable.The present study was undertaken to detect and record some of the more subtle evidences of disturbances in the functioning of the speech mechanism during stuttering. Our knowledge of the symptoms of stuttering is limited undoubtedly because of a lack of techniques for disclosing all that may be occurring in the organism during any given period. Various biochemical, neurophysiological, and psychological changes which occur during stuttering are undoubtedly pathognomonic and consequently would be of great value if we were able to detect them. To a partial realization of the achievement of this goal we have brought a refined method. It is capable of demonstrating many relatively obscure but certainly significant neuromuscular dysintegrations obtaining during stuttering.Previous studies further suggest the value of a phonophotographic analysis of the stutterer's voice and speech. Such have concerned themselves largely with pitch changes in, and duration of, tones in various types of both normal and abnormal speech. The studies of Scripture, Simon, Gray. Trains, Root, and Miles are of particular significance for the present report. They will be evaluated later in connection with the presentation and discussion of our findings.

A study of the extent of dyssynergia occurring during the stuttering spasm.

“…The records reveal no direct evidence of the cause or significance of the sound-wave abnormalities studied. For example, the single waves, or ' vibration couplets,' reported by previous investigators (1,18), occur in all but 12 of the cases and constitute approximately one-third of the vocal abnormalities recorded, yet they bear no constant relationship to any other type of abnormality. They may occur during inspiration or expiration, or during opposition in the activity of the upper and lower levels of the thorax.…”

“…It seemed desirable to attempt to get a composite picture of the spasm by recording simultaneously as many of these activities as possible. It was thought that such records would throw light on the following questions: (1) what is the temporal relationship between various symptoms of stuttering and the various parts of the stuttering spasm? (2) to what extent is any one symptom characteristic of the stuttering spasm?…”

“…In the breathing records: (1) antagonism between the activity of the upper and lower levels of the thorax; (2) prolonged inspiration, especially when accompanied by phonation; (3) inspiration broken into by expiration, or vice versa; (4) clonic or tonic interruptions; (5) asymmetry in the activity of the lateral sides of the abdomen. In the voice records: (1) pathologic variations in the form, length, or intensity of consecutive waves;…”

A study of the extent of dyssynergia occurring during the stuttering spasm.

“…The records reveal no direct evidence of the cause or significance of the sound-wave abnormalities studied. For example, the single waves, or ' vibration couplets,' reported by previous investigators (1,18), occur in all but 12 of the cases and constitute approximately one-third of the vocal abnormalities recorded, yet they bear no constant relationship to any other type of abnormality. They may occur during inspiration or expiration, or during opposition in the activity of the upper and lower levels of the thorax.…”

“…It seemed desirable to attempt to get a composite picture of the spasm by recording simultaneously as many of these activities as possible. It was thought that such records would throw light on the following questions: (1) what is the temporal relationship between various symptoms of stuttering and the various parts of the stuttering spasm? (2) to what extent is any one symptom characteristic of the stuttering spasm?…”

“…In the breathing records: (1) antagonism between the activity of the upper and lower levels of the thorax; (2) prolonged inspiration, especially when accompanied by phonation; (3) inspiration broken into by expiration, or vice versa; (4) clonic or tonic interruptions; (5) asymmetry in the activity of the lateral sides of the abdomen. In the voice records: (1) pathologic variations in the form, length, or intensity of consecutive waves;…”

An analysis of associative and predisposing factors in the symptomatology of stuttering.

“…From the data presented in the preceding section the following items concerning the eye-movements of two groups of stutterers, divided according to whether they did or did not stutter in the experimental situation, were noted: (1) in the four measures of eye-movements-mean fixations per line, mean duration of fixation, mean reading time per line, and mean regressions per linethe two groups were practically alike in the silent reading situation; (2) the values for the non-affected group in the oral reading situation tended to remain constant throughout the series;…”

An action current study of handedness in relation to stuttering.

“…Jasper and Murray ( 22) discovered a high degree of dysintegration in the eye movements of stutterers during stuttering in oral reading that was indicative of marked disturbance in higher center control. The breakdown in the integrative activities of the higher levels is advertised in serious disturbances of the movements of the speech units ( 23), ( 24), ( 25), (26). In general these disturbances indicate the results of the inadequate control by the lower levels over the peripheral speech mechanism.…”

A study of the extent of dyssynergia occurring during the stuttering spasm.

“…The records reveal no direct evidence of the cause or significance of the sound-wave abnormalities studied. For example, the single waves, or ' vibration couplets,' reported by previous investigators (1,18), occur in all but 12 of the cases and constitute approximately one-third of the vocal abnormalities recorded, yet they bear no constant relationship to any other type of abnormality. They may occur during inspiration or expiration, or during opposition in the activity of the upper and lower levels of the thorax.…”

“…It seemed desirable to attempt to get a composite picture of the spasm by recording simultaneously as many of these activities as possible. It was thought that such records would throw light on the following questions: (1) what is the temporal relationship between various symptoms of stuttering and the various parts of the stuttering spasm? (2) to what extent is any one symptom characteristic of the stuttering spasm?…”

“…In the breathing records: (1) antagonism between the activity of the upper and lower levels of the thorax; (2) prolonged inspiration, especially when accompanied by phonation; (3) inspiration broken into by expiration, or vice versa; (4) clonic or tonic interruptions; (5) asymmetry in the activity of the lateral sides of the abdomen. In the voice records: (1) pathologic variations in the form, length, or intensity of consecutive waves;…”

An analysis of associative and predisposing factors in the symptomatology of stuttering.

“…From the data presented in the preceding section the following items concerning the eye-movements of two groups of stutterers, divided according to whether they did or did not stutter in the experimental situation, were noted: (1) in the four measures of eye-movements-mean fixations per line, mean duration of fixation, mean reading time per line, and mean regressions per linethe two groups were practically alike in the silent reading situation; (2) the values for the non-affected group in the oral reading situation tended to remain constant throughout the series;…”

An action current study of handedness in relation to stuttering.

“…Jasper and Murray ( 22) discovered a high degree of dysintegration in the eye movements of stutterers during stuttering in oral reading that was indicative of marked disturbance in higher center control. The breakdown in the integrative activities of the higher levels is advertised in serious disturbances of the movements of the speech units ( 23), ( 24), ( 25), (26). In general these disturbances indicate the results of the inadequate control by the lower levels over the peripheral speech mechanism.…”

A study of the extent of dyssynergia occurring during the stuttering spasm.

“…The records reveal no direct evidence of the cause or significance of the sound-wave abnormalities studied. For example, the single waves, or ' vibration couplets,' reported by previous investigators (1,18), occur in all but 12 of the cases and constitute approximately one-third of the vocal abnormalities recorded, yet they bear no constant relationship to any other type of abnormality. They may occur during inspiration or expiration, or during opposition in the activity of the upper and lower levels of the thorax.…”

“…It seemed desirable to attempt to get a composite picture of the spasm by recording simultaneously as many of these activities as possible. It was thought that such records would throw light on the following questions: (1) what is the temporal relationship between various symptoms of stuttering and the various parts of the stuttering spasm? (2) to what extent is any one symptom characteristic of the stuttering spasm?…”

“…In the breathing records: (1) antagonism between the activity of the upper and lower levels of the thorax; (2) prolonged inspiration, especially when accompanied by phonation; (3) inspiration broken into by expiration, or vice versa; (4) clonic or tonic interruptions; (5) asymmetry in the activity of the lateral sides of the abdomen. In the voice records: (1) pathologic variations in the form, length, or intensity of consecutive waves;…”

An analysis of associative and predisposing factors in the symptomatology of stuttering.

“…From the data presented in the preceding section the following items concerning the eye-movements of two groups of stutterers, divided according to whether they did or did not stutter in the experimental situation, were noted: (1) in the four measures of eye-movements-mean fixations per line, mean duration of fixation, mean reading time per line, and mean regressions per linethe two groups were practically alike in the silent reading situation; (2) the values for the non-affected group in the oral reading situation tended to remain constant throughout the series;…”

An action current study of handedness in relation to stuttering.

“…Jasper and Murray ( 22) discovered a high degree of dysintegration in the eye movements of stutterers during stuttering in oral reading that was indicative of marked disturbance in higher center control. The breakdown in the integrative activities of the higher levels is advertised in serious disturbances of the movements of the speech units ( 23), ( 24), ( 25), (26). In general these disturbances indicate the results of the inadequate control by the lower levels over the peripheral speech mechanism.…”