Impact of alphabet supplementation on speech and pause durations of dysarthric speakers with traumatic brain injury: A research note

Alphabet supplementation (AS) provides individuals with severe dysarthria a means to use their natural speech to communicate more effectively. The purpose of this study was to document the speech and pause temporal characteristics of alphabet supplemented speech compared to habitual speech for individuals with traumatic brain injury. Pause time during AS was significantly greater than pause time during habitual speech. Although speech time also increased during AS, it did not differ significantly from habitual speech. Alphabet supplementation also led to an increase in intelligibility and a decrease in speaking rate. These results are consistent with past research on different populations.