Understanding how individuals control their speech movements

Quantitatively Characterizing the Speech Motor Skillsets of Individual Speakers

NIH-funded research Boston University (Charles River Campus) · NIH-11130321

This study is looking at how people control their speech and how different sounds and sensations affect their speaking, and it includes adults with stuttering, dyslexia, and those who speak normally, to help create better treatments for communication challenges.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBoston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11130321 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research aims to develop a computational model that characterizes how individual speakers control their speech motor skills. By examining auditory and somatosensory feedback mechanisms, the study will involve participants performing speech tasks while their responses to various auditory and sensory challenges are measured. The research will include adults with developmental stuttering, dyslexia, and neurotypical adults, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of speech motor control across different populations. The findings could lead to tailored therapies for communication disorders based on individual speech motor characteristics.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include adults with persistent developmental stuttering, adults with dyslexia, and neurotypical adults aged 21 and older.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have communication disorders or are under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to customized therapies that improve speech motor control for individuals with communication disorders.

How similar studies have performed: Similar research has shown promise in understanding speech motor control, but this approach is innovative in its use of neurocomputational modeling.

Where this research is happening

Boston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.