AI-Enhanced Home Practice to Improve Speech Sound Disorder Treatment Randomized Trial Using Visual-Acoustic Biofeedback in Children and Adolescents

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 TAUAI. 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.

Generalization With AI Navigation Using StaRt