Creating a Lip-reading Training Program and Examining its Effect on Speech Recognition in Men Aged 18-25 With Normal Hearing

Lip reading is extraction of speech data from the activity of the lower part of face, particularly jaws, lips, tongue, and teeth that is a natural skill in people with hearing loss. The main purpose of lip reading is to increase the independence of people with hearing loss. Looking at the speakers facial movements significantly increase the ability to understand the spoken words, particularly in the environments where noise is present. In fact this reflects the important role of visual signals. In current study we consider the effects of education on lip reading ability by planning and instructing a lip reading program in male subjects.

Methods & Materials: 

Sara lip reading test 1 and 2 were used for the assessment of lip reading skills and for studying the effects of lip reading training on recognition of speech. This intervention as a semi-experimental study, was conducted on 27 male students, selected by available sampling. For data analysis, statistical analysis of variance with repeated measurements and Mcnemar was used.

Ethical Considerations: 

This research with the code IR.SBMU.REC.1394.144 has been approved by the ethics committee of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences.

 There were significant differences between Sara lip reading test 1 scores in 2 positions (P=0.000).Lip reading test scores also showed significant differences in Sara lip reading test 2 in 2 positions (P=0.000). Also between the scores of Consonant-vowel, consonant-vowel syllables, in the position before teaching lip-reading and then ,was significant difference (P<0.05).

 The findings of this study showed that instructing lip reading has a positive effect on lip-reading ability in people.