Online visual-acoustic biofeedback to correct /s/ (lisp) distortions
Online Assessment and Enhancement of Auditory Perception for Speech Sound Errors: BiOfeedback, Online for Sibilant Treatment
This trial will test whether live online visual-acoustic biofeedback helps children aged 8 to 17 who have persistent distortions of the /s/ sound.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 6 (estimated) |
| Ages | 8 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Montclair State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Bloomfield, New Jersey) |
| Trial ID | NCT07041723 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Six children with residual /s/ distortions will be enrolled and randomly assigned to transition from a no-treatment baseline to treatment at one of seven scheduled points (4–10 baseline sessions). All participants receive twenty 1-hour individual biofeedback sessions delivered by a certified speech-language pathologist over 10 weeks via secure Zoom, plus three maintenance sessions. Each session begins with standardized probes of /s/ production, includes targeted instruction and shaping, then intensive practice in blocks of trials with visual-acoustic feedback. Outcomes include changes in /s/ production accuracy and reported social-emotional well-being from participants and guardians.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-dominant children aged 8;0–17;11 with persistent /s/ distortions (under 30% accuracy on a probe), normal hearing, few other articulation errors, and access to a laptop/desktop and quiet space for teletherapy.
Not a fit: Children outside the age range, with significant additional language, cognitive, or hearing impairments, or lacking required technology or a quiet space are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could reduce or eliminate /s/ distortions, improving speech clarity and social confidence for affected children.
How similar studies have performed: Previous small studies and single-subject reports of visual-acoustic biofeedback for sibilants have shown promising improvements, but larger randomized evidence remains limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 8;0 and 17;11 years at the time of enrollment * English as the dominant language (must have begun learning English by age 3, per parent report) * Passes pure-tone hearing screening at 30 dB hearing level * Passes brief examination of oral structure and function * Less than 30% accuracy, based on consensus across 2 trained listeners, on a probe list eliciting fricative /s, z/ in various phonetic contexts at the word level * No more than 3 sounds other than /s/ in error on the Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation-3 (GFTA-3) * Diagnosis of ADHD, learning disability, dyslexia, or neurodiversity is admissible if participant meets cutoff scores on evaluation day 1 * History of CAS is admissible if participant meets cutoff scores on evaluation day 1 * Braces and removable retainers are admissible * Access to a laptop or desktop computer and a quiet space for study sessions Exclusion Criteria: * Scaled score of 7 or higher on the Recalling Sentences and Formulated Sentences subtests of the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-5 (CELF-5) * History of permanent hearing loss (temporary hearing loss due to otitis media, including recurrent OM/tubes, is admissible) * History of developmental disorder (e.g., Down syndrome, cerebral palsy) * History of major brain injury, surgery, or stroke in the past year (mild concussion is admissible) * Active diagnosis of epilepsy or other neurological disorder (permissible if well-controlled for at least 6 months) * Current diagnosis of voice or fluency disorder * Current presence of orthodontia that crosses the palate (braces and removable retainers are admissible) * Lack of access to a laptop or desktop computer and a quiet space for study sessions
Where this trial is running
Bloomfield, New Jersey
- Montclair State University — Bloomfield, New Jersey, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Elaine R. Hitchcock, PhD
- Email: hitchcocke@montclair.edu
- Phone: 19732293797
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.