Speech quality measurement and the management of stuttering.

This paper reviews the various approaches that have been made toward the investigation of speech quality in stuttering treatment. The review takes into account the findings of relevant perceptual and acoustic investigations in the area of normal communication skills and voice disorders. Similar consideration is given to investigations on the stutter-free speech of stutterers where the contribution and relevance of this research to the search for a reliable and viable measure of speech quality is discussed. The review concludes with an overview of some promising findings from recent studies on the use of listener ratings of speech naturalness in the measurement and modification of untreated and treated stutterers. Some avenues for research and issues that have emerged from these studies are also discussed.