Actively Recruiting

Phase 2
Age: 9Years - 17Years
All Genders
ID06884943

Randomized Trial of AI-Enhanced Maintenance Training With Visual-Acoustic Biofeedback for Speech Sound Disorder

Led by New York University · Updated on 2026-05-13

76

Participants Needed

2

Research Sites

26 weeks

Total Duration

On this page

Sponsors

N

New York University

Lead Sponsor

S

Syracuse University

Collaborating Sponsor

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

Speech Sound Disorder (SSD) affects many school-aged children, leading to social and emotional challenges that may continue into adolescence and adulthood. Researchers are studying the effects of an AI-guided home practice program to support speech sound generalization after participants complete a related biofeedback treatment study called VISIT. This study aims to see if using AI tools at home can improve speech sound accuracy in children and adolescents with SSD. Participants in this study will be randomized to receive either treatment as usual (TAU) or treatment as usual plus an AI-guided maintenance program with biofeedback (TAU+AI). The AI-guided practice uses a web interface called staRt that provides real-time visual feedback of speech sounds and classifier feedback on the accuracy of the American English "r" sound. All treatment sessions happen at home, while evaluations before and after the six-week GAINS study occur in the lab. During the study, participants will be assessed on speech sound accuracy by blinded listeners who rate their production of /r/ sounds in word probes before and after the treatment period. Researchers will also collect data on regular community-based care during the study. The study starts with a six-week treatment phase, with continuous monitoring of progress and speech accuracy. Participants must have completed the VISIT study and meet specific language, hearing, and computer access requirements to take part.

CONDITIONS

Brief Title

Generalization With AI Navigation Using StaRt

Who Can Participate

Age: 9Years - 17Years
All Genders

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

  • Must be between 9 years and 17 years 11 months old at enrollment
  • Must speak English as the dominant or equally dominant language
  • Must have started learning English by age 3, according to parent report
  • Must hear a rhotic English dialect from at least one speaker at home if English is spoken there
  • Must pass a pure-tone hearing screening
  • Must pass a brief oral structure and function exam
  • Must demonstrate age-appropriate receptive and expressive language 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 that supports video calls
  • Must have completed participation in the VISIT randomized controlled trial
  • Must have scored at least 60% correct in at least one treatment session during the VISIT study
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

  • Must not have a voice or fluency disorder severe enough to interfere with study participation
  • Must not currently have orthodontia crossing the palate that cannot be removed
  • Must not have a history of permanent hearing loss
  • Must not have a diagnosis of developmental disability such as cerebral palsy or Down Syndrome
  • Must not have had major brain injury, surgery, or stroke within the past year
  • Must not have epilepsy with seizures in the past 6 months
  • Must not show significant signs of apraxia of speech or dysarthria

AI-Screening

AI-Powered Screening

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Your Study Journey

Screening

Duration - 2 to 4 weeks

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Duration - 6 weeks

Participants complete either AI-guided maintenance training with visual-acoustic biofeedback at home or follow treatment as usual in their community setting.

Home-based sessions using online tools with occasional research assistant support; 2 laboratory visits for pre- and post-treatment evaluations

Trial Site Locations

Total: 2 locations

1

Montclair State University

Bloomfield, New Jersey, United States, 07003

Actively Recruiting

2

Syracuse University

Syracuse, New York, United States, 13244

Actively Recruiting

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Research Team

T

Tara McAllister, PhD

T

Twylah Campbell, MA

How is the study designed?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Masking

SINGLE

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Model

PARALLEL

Primary Purpose

TREATMENT

Number of Arms

2

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Published Research Related To This Trial

Traditional and Visual-Acoustic Biofeedback Treatment via Telepractice for Residual Speech Sound Disorders Affecting /ɹ/: Pilot study.

Laura C Ochs, Megan C Leece, Jonathan L Preston...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38764857

Retroflex versus bunched in treatment for rhotic misarticulation: evidence from ultrasound biofeedback intervention.

Tara McAllister Byun, Elaine R Hitchcock, Michelle T Swartz

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25088034