Dhatri Devaraju, Ph.D.
Lecturer
Speech Processing and Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Speech in Noise and Auditory Temporal Processing Deficits in Individuals Who Stutter
Stuttering is a speech fluency disorder characterized by repetitions, prolongations and silent blocks in speech production. Although stuttering presents as speech production deficit, the underlying nature is multidimensional involving various processes in development of the disorder. One of the processes posited by internal models for sensorimotor processing is the underlying deficits in auditory feedback monitoring. These deficits can lead to faulty auditory speech representations as the disorder progresses through its developmental course. Individuals who stutter also exhibit temporal processing deficits, which are vital for speech perception, more so in the presence of noise. Thus, deficits in temporal processing can manifest as impaired speech perception in noise in these individuals. In this talk, I will discuss a series of behavioral and electrophysiological (frequency following responses) studies conducted to understand auditory temporal processing in adults who stutter. These findings highlight how auditory temporal processing and speech perception in noise are impacted in this population, warranting further exploration of these essential processes in understanding various factors involved in development of the disorder and its effects on communication.