Using altered auditory feedback to improve speech fluency in people who stutter
Effects of Altered Auditory Feedback on Speech Fluency
This study is testing whether using the Mumble Melody app, which changes how your voice sounds, can help people who stutter speak more fluently over a month of daily use.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 100 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Cambridge, Massachusetts) |
| Trial ID | NCT06011837 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study investigates the effects of the Mumble Melody app, which applies real-time voice transformations to enhance speech fluency in individuals who stutter. Participants will use the app daily for a month, selecting from various voice modes such as Unaltered, Whisper, Reverberated, and Harmonious. They will also engage in weekly at-home testing sessions to record their speech with and without the app, allowing researchers to assess the long-term impact of altered auditory feedback on fluency. The study aims to gather data on how these interventions affect speech over time in a naturalistic setting.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults who identify as people who stutter and have access to compatible Apple devices.
Not a fit: Patients who do not stutter or those without access to the required Apple devices may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve speech fluency and communication confidence for individuals who stutter.
How similar studies have performed: While the use of altered auditory feedback has been explored in other studies, this specific approach using a mobile app is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Identifies as a person who stutters * Is US citizen or green card holder currently residing in the US * Has one of the following Apple devices: * iPhone with iOS 12.0 or later * iPad with iPadOS 12.0 or later * iPod touch with iOS 12.0 or later * Mac with macOS 11.0 or later and an Apple M1 chip or later * Has a SEPARATE browser-supporting device with a microphone * Is able to conduct the study in English * Qualifies based on an initial screening evaluation (Greater than 2.5% Stuttering-Like Dysfluencies per syllable) Exclusion Criteria: -
Where this trial is running
Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Satrajit Ghosh, PhD — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Alisha Kodibagkar, MS
- Email: akodiba1@mit.edu
- Phone: 2145973346
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.