The Effects of Electromagnetic Articulography Sensors on Speech in Individuals With and Without Dysarthria

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of electromagnetic articulography (EMA) sensor placement on acoustic and perceptual speech outcomes for speakers with and without dysarthria secondary to Parkinson’s disease (PD). Additionally, post-adaptation effects after removing EMA sensors were also examined in both speaker groups.Methods: A total of 34 speakers (21 Controls and 13 PD) completed three readings of the Caterpillar Passage: (1) Before Sensors, (2) With Sensors, and (3) After Sensors. Changes in acoustic (articulation rate, vowel space area, first and second spectral moment coefficients for fricatives) and perceptual (speech intelligibility, naturalness) measures were compared across the three time points (Before Sensors, With Sensors, and After Sensors). Results: Linear mixed-effects models indicated sensor placement effects for the spectral moment coefficients (M1 and M2) and both perceptual measures for both speaker groups. No significant post-adaptation effects were seen across all the acoustic and perceptual measures. Additionally, group differences in spectral and perceptual measures were seen, but the changes in these measures between the three time points were similar for both speaker groups.Conclusion: The results suggest that M1 and M2 and perceptual speech measures are sensitive to sensor placement and that sensor placement impacted these measures similarly for both control and PD speakers. However, limited evidence of post-adaptation effects was seen after the removal of sensors.