Laffont Isabelle, Dumas Claude, Pozzi Delphine, Ruquet Maria, Tissier Anne Claire, Lofaso Frédéric, Dizien Olivier
Centre d'Innovations Technologiques, Hopital Raymond Poincaré, Garches, France.
J Rehabil Med. 2007 May;39(5):399-404. doi: 10.2340/16501977-0056.
The aim of this study was to evaluate a speech synthesizer with respect to patterns of use and satisfaction, during a 2-month trial at home, and the usefulness of the word prediction function.
Prospective study.
Of the 24 patients with severe dysarthria recruited, 10 completed the study. Five patients had cerebral palsy, 3 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, one locked-in syndrome, and one anoxic brain damage. Mean age was 32 (standard deviation 21) years (range 9-66 years).
Each participant received 10 hours of training with the device (Dialo) and then used it at home for 2 months. The main outcome measures were: level of use recorded by the device, Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST) satisfaction score (maximum = 5), and time needed to take dictations of standard-dictionary and personal-dictionary words with and without word prediction.
Level of use varied widely across participants. Overall satisfaction at the end of the home trial was high, with a mean QUEST score of 3.4 (SD 1) and was related to the level of use of the device. Level of satisfaction at the end of the training session could not predict the level of use at home. No significant differences were found in dictation-taking times with and without word prediction. However, 6 of the 10 patients took dictation faster with than without word prediction.
This study provides the first evidence supporting the benefits of a speech synthesizer used at home for several weeks. Word prediction is useful for some patients even if increase in dictation speed did not reach significance.
本研究旨在评估一款语音合成器在为期2个月的家庭试用期间的使用模式和满意度，以及单词预测功能的实用性。
前瞻性研究。
在招募的24名严重构音障碍患者中，10名完成了研究。其中5名患有脑瘫，3名患有肌萎缩侧索硬化症，1名患有闭锁综合征，1名患有缺氧性脑损伤。平均年龄为32岁（标准差21）（范围9 - 66岁）。
每位参与者接受了10小时的设备（Dialo）培训，然后在家中使用2个月。主要结局指标为：设备记录的使用水平、魁北克辅助技术用户满意度评估（QUEST）满意度评分（最高 = 5），以及有无单词预测功能时听写标准词典和个人词典单词所需的时间。
参与者的使用水平差异很大。家庭试用结束时的总体满意度较高，QUEST平均评分为3.4（标准差1），且与设备的使用水平相关。培训结束时的满意度水平无法预测在家中的使用水平。有无单词预测功能时的听写时间没有显著差异。然而，10名患者中有6名在有单词预测功能时听写速度更快。
本研究提供了首个证据，支持在家中使用语音合成器数周的益处。单词预测功能对一些患者有用，即使听写速度的提高未达到显著水平。
