AI-assisted treatment for improving speech sound disorders in children

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of artificial intelligence-assisted home practice in enhancing the learning of the 'r' sound in school-age children with residual speech sound disorders. Participants will receive weekly speech lessons from a human speech-language clinician for five weeks, with some also receiving additional sessions from an AI-clinician either concurrently or sequentially. The AI tool is designed to detect mispronunciations and provide feedback, potentially increasing access to effective treatment amidst provider shortages. The study utilizes an evidence-based motor learning framework to improve speech outcomes.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Must speak a rhotic dialect of American English as a dominant language.
* Must have begun learning English by at least the age of 3 years.
* Must be between 9;0 to 17;11 years of age.
* Must have reported difficulty with /ɹ/ production.
* Must have reported hearing within normal limits.
* Must receive a Scaled Score of 5 or above on both the Listening Comprehension and Story Retelling subtests from the Test of Integrated Language \& Literacy Skills (TILLS).
* Must receive a percentile score of 8 or below on the Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation-3 (GFTA-3) Sounds in Words subtest.
* Must have 1 scorable response with 5+ consecutive correct /pataka/ with \> 3.4 syllables per second in the MRR-Tri task of the Maximum Performance Tasks OR must demonstrate no childhood apraxia of speech (CAS-only) features in BOTH articulatory and rate/prosody domains of the ProCAD.
* Must score \<40% accurate based on word-level items from our /ɹ/ probe list.
* Must score \>=15% accuracy on /ɹ/ on 45 syllables following Dynamic Assessment.
* Must express interest in changing their /ɹ/ production.
* Must have oral structure and function that are appropriate for /ɹ/ production.
* Must have access to broadband internet with videoconferencing capabilities

Exclusion Criteria:

* Must have no known history of autism spectrum disorder, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, permanent hearing loss, epilepsy/antiepileptic medication, or brain injury/neurosurgery/stroke.
* Must not have diagnosis of attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Tourette's, or Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
* Must have no orthodontic appliances that block the roof of the mouth (e.g., palate expanders).
* Must not have current cleft palate, fluency disorder, or voice disorder.
* Must not demonstrate childhood apraxia of speech (CAS-only) features in BOTH articulatory and rate/prosody domains of the ProCAD.

Where it's running

• Syracuse University
  Syracuse, New York, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Jonathan Preston, PhD
• Email: jopresto@syr.edu
• Phone: 315-443-1351

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

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• Online treatment for improving speech sound disorders in children

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• AI-guided home practice for improving speech sound production

  This study is testing if using an AI program at home can help children and teens with Speech Sound Disorder improve how they say the 'r' sound compared to regular treatment alone.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Phase 2 New York University · Bloomfield, New Jersey and 1 other locations · NCT06884943

• Ultrasound therapy for children with speech sound disorders

  This study is testing if using ultrasound to help kids with speech sound disorders, especially those with brain tumors or cleft palates, can improve their speech by showing them how to move their tongues correctly.

  Recruiting The University of Hong Kong · Hong Kong · NCT06831396

• Visual-acoustic biofeedback intervention for children with speech sound disorder

  This study tests if a new speech therapy using visual and sound feedback works just as well for kids with speech sound disorder when done in person or online.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Phase 2 New York University · Bloomfield, New Jersey and 2 other locations · NCT06517225

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.