Thesis -Hyponasality: Implications of Children's Voice Quality on Adult Perceptions

Voice quality is an important factor that influences people’s first impressions. Hyponasality, described as “speakig-through-the-dose”, occurs when too little air flows through the nose during production of nasal phonemes. Voice quality affects teachers’ impressions of students, but it is not known what specific qualities influence perceptions. Previous research showed that hypernasal resonance in infants and adults elicit negative perceptions. The purpose of this experiment was to determine if children’s hyponasal voices elicit more negative perceptions than voices with normal resonance. Adults listened to a CD with the voices of the same 8 children speaking the same sentence with hyponasal resonance and average nasal resonance and rated them on adjectives related to intelligence and social favourability. When children spoke with hyponasal voices, they were perceived as less socially favourable and less intelligent than when they spoke with normal nasal resonance. This study demonstrates that children’s voice quality affects listener’s attitudes.

Future Interests

I am interested in a career as a Speech-Language Pathologist and will be applying for acceptance into a Masters program in September 2003. In the coming year, I would like to gain more experience with research pertaining to the field of language.

CLLRNet Research Projects

• Acoustic properties of children's voices and their impact on communication
• Impact of Early Onset Otitis Media on Speech Perception and Production Skills in Infancy

Last Modified: February 04 2002 11:26:34.