AI-guided home practice for improving speech sound production
Official title: Randomized Trial of AI-Enhanced Maintenance Training With Visual-Acoustic Biofeedback
Run by New York University · NCT06884943 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 |
| Ages | 9 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 76 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | New York University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Bloomfield, New Jersey and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 18, 2024 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2028 |
| Study ends | July 1, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | May 13, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06884943 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: While the use of AI in speech therapy is a novel approach, related studies have shown promise in technology-enhanced treatments for speech disorders.
Who can join: the full rules
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 it's running
-
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
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Help children ages 7–11 say the /s/ sound more clearly
It will try short, online speech lessons to help children ages 7–11 who have trouble saying the /s/ sound.
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Online visual-acoustic biofeedback to correct /s/ (lisp) distortions
This trial will test whether live online visual-acoustic biofeedback helps children aged 8 to 17 who have persistent distortions of the /s/ sound.
-
Online treatment for improving speech sound disorders in children
This study is testing if an online treatment that focuses on listening skills first or speaking skills first can help children with speech sound disorders improve their speech.
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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.
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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.
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Investigating language development in children with communication challenges
This study is testing new ways to measure language growth in preschoolers with communication challenges, like Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy, to see what helps them learn to talk better.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.