Research

Intelligibility Measurement in Individuals with Cleft Palate and Other Craniofacial Conditions

A key focus of our research lab is to deepen our understanding of intelligibility impairments in individuals with cleft palate and other craniofacial disorders. We have conducted studies examining the impact of various factors, including listener characteristics, background noise, the presence of syndromic conditions, and different approaches to measuring intelligibility. Our work also has explored the use of culturally adaptive tools such as the Intelligibility in Context Scale (ICS) to assess speech intelligibility in children with cleft palate.

Use of Ultrasound Tongue Imaging for Visual Biofeedback in Children with Cleft Palate

A significant focus of CPSL's work over the years has been navigating how to use ultrasound biofeedback to support children with craniofacial disorders with persistent speech difficulties. Children with cleft palate represent a heterogeneous group, presenting with diverse craniofacial conditions and disorders related to speech and resonance. Among these challenges, persistent articulation errors are particularly common in specific subgroups, particularly in older ages. Our team has been actively exploring and refining biofeedback interventions, utilizing tongue imaging to enhance the effectiveness of these therapies for this population.

Interactions between Tongue shape and nasality

Our team is interested in understanding the interactions between velopharyngeal dysfunction and tongue shape/position. We expect that VPI can be altered through behavioral intervention. Our focus is to develop an evidence-based behavioral intervention program with a focus on tongue shape and position to reduce hypernasality, which will potentially benefit patients who wish to forgo surgery or those for whom surgery is not a viable option.

Interactions between dialect, nasality, and tongue position

This study aims to explore the relationship between perceived nasality in the South Texas dialect and tongue position. Using ultrasound tongue imaging, we investigate how tongue positioning in speakers of the South Texas dialect differs from that of speakers of other dialects, providing insights into dialect-specific speech production patterns.