AI-assisted treatment for improving speech sound disorders in children
AI-Assisted Treatment for Residual Speech Sound Disorders
This study is testing if using an AI tool along with regular speech lessons can help children with speech sound disorders learn to say the 'r' sound better.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 26 (estimated) |
| Ages | 9 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Syracuse University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Syracuse, New York) |
| Trial ID | NCT05988515 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are school-age children aged 9 to 17 years who speak a rhotic dialect of American English and have difficulty producing the 'r' sound.
Not a fit: Patients who do not speak a rhotic dialect of American English or have other speech disorders may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly enhance speech learning and accessibility to treatment for children with speech sound disorders.
How similar studies have performed: While the use of AI in speech therapy is a novel approach, similar studies have shown promise in enhancing treatment outcomes in other areas of speech and language pathology.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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 this trial is running
Syracuse, New York
- Syracuse University — Syracuse, New York, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jonathan Preston, PhD
- Email: jopresto@syr.edu
- Phone: 315-443-1351
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.