Examining the effects of amplification on the nasalance ratios of hearing-impaired children.

Abstract

Nasalance scores were obtained for hearing-impaired children. Data speech samples obtained with and without personal amplification were compared for differences between gender and chronological age. Statistical comparisons are presented for each amplification condition. Significant differences for nasalance in the aided and unaided conditions were not evident although a high, positive correlation between conditions was reported. Nasalance, age and gender were not positively related. Dispersion of the nasalance scores for the two speech conditions was suggestive of persisting difficulties with velopharyngeal control during speech activities; mean scores revealed objective evidence of hypernasality.