| Abstract
Purpose: Explore listener responses (stereotype, emotional state, and physiological) to fluent, dysarthric, and stuttered speech.
Method: Nineteen fluent adults participated. Each answered stereotype questionnaires regarding three vignettes illustrating speech categories. They watched randomized videos while attached to electrodes, which tracked skin conductance (SC) and heart rate (HR) as physiological responses. After each video they answered state response questions using a bipolar adjective scale.
Outcomes & Results: Responses to dysarthria and stuttering vignettes demonstrated similar assignment of personal attributes with both rated more negatively compared to fluent speech. Subtle differences in stereotype judgments coincided with state emotional response differences, such as, participants felt more anxiety, worse mood, and less patience after viewing stuttering as compared to dysarthria. Dysarthria and fluent speech demonstrated increased HR and decreased SC. Stuttered speech elicited an increase in both HR and SC.
Conclusions: A possible general stereotype towards disordered speech is indicated with nuanced differences between disorders. With this information, discussions of stereotypes, and inherent responses of listeners with clients can help to develop strategies for improving communication interactions. Future research should include communication disorders beyond stuttering and dysarthria. |