The effect of training on discrimination of vibrotactual speech stimuli.

Normal-hearing young adults (N: 30) discriminated CVs and vowels vibrotactually presented by a vibrator of the hearing-aid type. Features of voicing, place and manner could be discriminated above chance levels when contrasted with the same phoneme class. Discrimination of vowels, however, was at chance level. Although a brief (10-hr) training curriculum did not significantly increase vibrotactile discrimination of either CVs or vowels, such a vibrator could be used to supplement the acquisition of articulation in the severely and profoundly hearing-impaired person.