AI-guided home practice for improving speech sound production
Randomized Trial of AI-Enhanced Maintenance Training With Visual-Acoustic Biofeedback
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.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 76 (estimated) |
| Ages | 9 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | New York University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Bloomfield, New Jersey and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06884943 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study investigates the effectiveness of an AI-mediated home practice program designed to enhance speech sound production in children and adolescents with Speech Sound Disorder (SSD). Participants, who have previously engaged in a related study, will be randomized to receive either standard treatment or treatment supplemented with AI-guided maintenance training. The study aims to measure improvements in the accuracy of producing the American English 'r' sound after six weeks of intervention. Evaluations will be conducted both at home and in a laboratory setting to assess the outcomes of the interventions.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children and adolescents aged 9 to 17 who have previously participated in a related speech treatment study and meet specific language and hearing criteria.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have access to the necessary technology or who do not meet the eligibility criteria may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide children with effective tools to improve their speech sound production outside of clinical settings.
How similar studies have performed: While the use of AI in speech therapy is a novel approach, related studies have shown promise in technology-enhanced treatments for speech disorders.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * • Must be between 9;0 and 17;11 (years;months) old at the time of enrollment. * Must speak English as the dominant or equally dominant language * Must have begun learning English by age 3, per parent report. * Must hear a rhotic dialect of English from at least one speaker in the home if the home language is English. * Must pass a pure-tone hearing screening. * Must pass a brief examination of oral structure and function. * Must demonstrate age-appropriate receptive and expressive language abilities on the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-5 (CELF-5). * Must have access to a laptop or desktop computer for study sessions. * Must have home wifi sufficient to support video calls in the event of randomization to the telepractice condition. * Must have completed participation in the VISIT randomized controlled trial. * Must score at least 60% correct in at least one treatment session during the related previous study, VISIT. Exclusion Criteria: * • Must not exhibit voice or fluency disorder of a severity judged likely to interfere with the ability to participate in study activities. * Must not currently have orthodontia that crosses the palate and cannot be removed. * Must not have history of permanent hearing loss. * Must not have an existing diagnosis of developmental disability such as cerebral palsy or Down Syndrome. * Must not have history of major brain injury, surgery, or stroke in the past year. * Must not have epilepsy with active seizure incidents with in the past 6 months. * Must not show clinically significant signs of apraxia of speech or dysarthria.
Where this trial is running
Bloomfield, New Jersey and 1 other locations
- Montclair State University — Bloomfield, New Jersey, United States (Recruiting)
- Syracuse University — Syracuse, New York, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Tara McAllister, PhD
- Email: tkm214@nyu.edu
- Phone: 212-992-9445
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.