This study examined whether intelligibility of augmentative and alternative communication synthesized speech in a regular secondary classroom setting improved following listener training. Previous research in the area of intelligibility of synthesized voices has been limited to the study of individuals in a clinical setting. Previous research in the area of listener training in the classroom has been limited to the acceptance of augmentative and alternative communication users by students in mainstream environments. One hundred and twenty secondary students in regular classroom settings participated in this study. The intelligibility of three synthesized voices by unfamiliar listeners without listener training was compared with the intelligibility of the three synthesized voices by unfamiliar listeners following listener training using a 2 x 3 design. Results of this study revealed that intelligibility for the selected synthesized voices (Echo II with Keytalk, VocaLite 170 with Smoothtalker, male voice and DECtalk, female voice) significantly (p < .01) improved following listener training.
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