Online visual-acoustic biofeedback to correct /s/ (lisp) distortions

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

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.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

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 it's running

• Montclair State University
  Bloomfield, New Jersey, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Elaine R. Hitchcock, PhD
• Email: hitchcocke@montclair.edu
• Phone: 19732293797

Similar studies

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

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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.