This paper focuses on methodological issues related to quantitative assessments of speech quality after glossectomy. Acoustic and articulatory data were collected for 8 consonants from two patients. The acoustic analysis is based on spectral moments and the Klatt VOT. Lingual movements are recorded with ultrasound without calibration. The variations of acoustic and articulatory parameters across pre-and post-surgery conditions are analysed in the light of perceptual evaluations of the stimuli. A parameter is considered to be relevant if its variation is congruent with perceptual ratings. The most relevant acoustic parameters are the skewness and the Center of Gravity. The Klatt VOT explains differences that could not be explained by spectral parameters. The SNTS ultrasound parameter provides information to describe impairments not accounted for by acoustical parameters. These results suggest that the combination of articulatory, perceptual and acoustic data provides comprehensive complementary information for a quantitative assessment of speech after glossectomy.

The rehabilitation of speech disorders benefits from providing visual information which may improve speech motor plans in patients. We tested the proof of concept of a rehabilitation method (Sensori-Motor Fusion, SMF; Ultraspeech player) in one post-stroke patient presenting chronic non-fluent aphasia. SMF allows visualisation by the patient of target tongue and lips movements using high-speed ultrasound and video imaging. This can improve the patient's awareness of his/her own lingual and labial movements, which can, in turn, improve the representation of articulatory movements and increase the ability to coordinate and combine articulatory gestures. The auditory and oro-sensory feedback received by the patient as a result of his/her own pronunciation can be integrated with the target articulatory movements they watch. Thus, this method is founded on sensorimotor integration during speech. The SMF effect on this patient was assessed through qualitative comparison of language scores and quantitative analysis of acoustic parameters measured in a speech production task, before and after rehabilitation. We also investigated cerebral patterns of language reorganisation for rhyme detection and syllable repetition, to evaluate the influence of SMF on phonological-phonetic processes. Our results showed that SMF had a beneficial effect on this patient who qualitatively improved in naming, reading, word repetition and rhyme judgment tasks. Quantitative measurements of acoustic parameters indicate that the patient's production of vowels and syllables also improved. Compared with pre-SMF, the fMRI data in the post-SMF session revealed the activation of cerebral regions related to articulatory, auditory and somatosensory processes, which were expected to be recruited by SMF. We discuss neurocognitive and linguistic mechanisms which may explain speech improvement after SMF, as well as the advantages of using this speech rehabilitation method.

International audienceObjectiveTo assess the efficiency of Visual Feedback (VF) on language recovery and plasticity in three chronic non-fluent aphasic patients. VF is based on language-action interaction, thus, language skills are improved by rehabilitation strategies based on execution and observation of motor actions. VF is an ultrasound system coupled with video images, allowing patients to ‘see their own lips and tongue at work’ during speech and improve their awareness of their lingual and labial movements and their ability to coordinate and combine phonemes and syllables. Brain plasticity was explored with functional MRI.Material/Patients and methods– Control group tested with functional MRI to identify language networks underlying three tasks of interest;– three patients with non-fluent chronic aphasia after ischemic stroke, were examined in neuropsychology, speech therapy, acoustics and fMRI, before and after VF. VF has been applied during 14 sessions (2 weeks, 1 per day). The performance was evaluated before and after VF. In fMRI, specific comparisons were performed to identify: – patterns of reorganization reflecting spontaneous neuro-plasticity, – the effect of VF on speech recovery and language plasticity.ResultsAfter 14 sessions of VF, acoustic analyses showed a more canonical vowel production and better repetition of consonants. Speech analysis for repetition of syllables, naming and rhytme judgment, showed a general improvement of performances, variable among patients. In terms of cerebral activation, various patterns of language reorganization were obtained according to task and level of language recovery. A general trend can be identified with the improvement of language performance after VF, which is a right hemispheric predominance before VF, followed by a return of the activity to the left hemisphere, after VF.Discussion - ConclusionResults are discussed according to current models of inter and intra-hemispheric reorganization of language