Exploring how virtual reality affects voice perception and production.
Official title: The Influence of Virtual Reality Environments on Voice Perception and Production
Funded at University of Delaware · NIH-10666001 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how using virtual reality can help people understand and improve their voice, making voice therapy more effective for everyday conversations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Delaware NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $439,168 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DC020494-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10666001 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who experience voice disorders and are seeking rehabilitation therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have voice disorders or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of virtual reality (VR) environments on how individuals perceive and produce their voice. By utilizing advanced VR technology, the study aims to create realistic audiovisual settings that mimic real-life situations, which may enhance the effectiveness of voice therapy. Participants will engage in various voice production tasks within these VR environments to assess how different sensory inputs influence their vocal performance and self-perception. The goal is to improve the generalization of voice therapy techniques to everyday communication scenarios.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective voice therapy methods that help individuals with voice disorders communicate better in real-life situations.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of virtual reality in voice therapy is relatively novel, there is emerging evidence suggesting that immersive environments can enhance learning and rehabilitation in other therapeutic contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Delaware
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Verdolini, Katherine — University of Delaware
- Study coordinator: Verdolini, Katherine
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.