scholarly journals The BioVisualSpeech Corpus of Words with Sibilants for Speech Therapy Games Development

Information ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 470
Author(s):  
Sofia Cavaco ◽  
Isabel Guimarães ◽  
Mariana Ascensão ◽  
Alberto Abad ◽  
Ivo Anjos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Speech Production ◽  
Speech Therapy ◽  
Speech Sound ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Speech Sound Disorders ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Speech And Language Therapy ◽  
Computer Tools ◽  
Computer Science Research

In order to develop computer tools for speech therapy that reliably classify speech productions, there is a need for speech production corpora that characterize the target population in terms of age, gender, and native language. Apart from including correct speech productions, in order to characterize the target population, the corpora should also include samples from people with speech sound disorders. In addition, the annotation of the data should include information on the correctness of the speech productions. Following these criteria, we collected a corpus that can be used to develop computer tools for speech and language therapy of Portuguese children with sigmatism. The proposed corpus contains European Portuguese children’s word productions in which the words have sibilant consonants. The corpus has productions from 356 children from 5 to 9 years of age. Some important characteristics of this corpus, that are relevant to speech and language therapy and computer science research, are that (1) the corpus includes data from children with speech sound disorders; and (2) the productions were annotated according to the criteria of speech and language pathologists, and have information about the speech production errors. These are relevant features for the development and assessment of speech processing tools for speech therapy of Portuguese children. In addition, as an illustration on how to use the corpus, we present three speech therapy games that use a convolutional neural network sibilants classifier trained with data from this corpus and a word recognition module trained on additional children data and calibrated and evaluated with the collected corpus.

Application of the Challenge Point Framework During Treatment of Speech Sound Disorders

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Tanya Matthews ◽  
Alexandra Barbeau-Morrison ◽  
Susan Rvachew
Keyword(s):  
Speech Production ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Speech Therapy ◽  
Speech Sound ◽  
Speech Sound Disorders ◽  
Practice Parameters ◽  
Practice Performance ◽  
Transfer And Retention ◽  
Practice Trials ◽  
Functional Task

Purpose The purpose of this article is to provide trial-by-trial practice performance data in relation to learning (outcome probe data) as collected from 18 treatment sessions provided to children with severe speech sound disorders. The data illustrate the practice–learning paradox: Specific, perfect practice performance is not required for speech production learning. Method We detailed how nine student speech-language pathologists (SSLPs) implemented and modified the motor learning practice conditions to reach a proposed challenge point during speech practice. Eleven participants diagnosed with a severe speech sound disorder received high-intensity speech therapy 3 times per week for 6 weeks. SSLPs implemented treatment procedures with the goal of achieving at least 100 practice trials while manipulating practice parameters to maintain practice at the challenge point. Specifically, child performance was monitored for accuracy in five-trial increments, and practice parameters were changed to increase functional task difficulty when the child's performance was high (four or five correct responses) or to decrease functional task difficulty when the child's performance was low (fewer than four correct responses). The practice stimulus, type and amount of feedback, structure of practice, or level of support might be changed to ensure practice at the challenge point. Results On average, the children achieved 102 practice trials per session at a level of 58% correct responses. Fast achievement of connected speech with the lowest amount of support was associated with high scores on generalization probes. Even with high levels of error during practice, the children improved percent consonants correct with maintenance of learning 3 months posttreatment. Conclusion The results of this study show that it may not be necessary to overpractice or maintain a high degree of performance accuracy during treatment sessions to achieve transfer and retention of speech production learning.

scholarly journals ICTs in Speech and Language Therapy

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athanasios Drigas ◽  
Alexia Petrova
Keyword(s):  
Speech Therapy ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
Information Communication Technologies ◽  
Information Communication ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Speech And Language Therapy ◽  
Remote Areas ◽  
The Past

Over the past decade speech and language therapy has taken an interesting turn towards the use of information communication technologies (ICTs) for diagnosis of disorders and delivery of therapy. In many cases ICTs have worked as assistive tools to therapists, while in others as sole providers of therapy, especially in remote areas. In this report we provide a brief overview of the most representative articles for applications and assistive technologies used for assessment and intervention purposes in Speech Therapy according to the type of disorders.

scholarly journals Telepractice in service delivery: A survey of perspectives and practices of speech and language therapists in Ireland during COVID-19

2022 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Eilis Farren ◽  
Duana Quigley ◽  
Yvonne Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Speech Sound ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Speech Sound Disorders ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Complex Needs ◽  
Almost All

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 accelerated telepractice implementation in speech and language therapy (SLT) in Ireland. OBJECTIVE: This study documents the service delivery changes that took place in the SLT profession in Ireland during the public health crisis. METHODS: An online survey of speech and language therapists (SLTs) in Ireland was conducted from June-September 2020 to investigate their perceptions of telepractice. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and frequency distribution. RESULTS: 173 SLT responses were analysed. Over half of the participants worked in urban locations. Respondents’ years of experience varied from less than four years to over 20 years. Slightly over half the participants reported using telepractice, with 85% starting to use telepractice in the six months prior to the survey. Telepractice uptake was not influenced by participants’ professional experience or geographical location (p >  0.05). Almost all participants who used telepractice were trained informally (92%,). Telepractice was most commonly used with school-aged children with developmental language and speech sound disorders. Respondents perceived that telepractice was not suitable for all individuals who need SLT, including those with complex needs. Clinicians reported that telepractice facilitated access to therapy for clients and opportunities to see clients in their own environments. Technology barriers were the biggest hurdle to telepractice use. CONCLUSIONS: Uptake of telepractice by the SLT profession in Ireland was widespread during COVID-19, highlighting the profession’s flexibility and innovation. Respondents indicated they are likely to continue to use telepractice as a complementary service delivery model post-COVID due to the distinct benefits for clinicians and clients.

Facilitating Parental Involvement in Speech Therapy for Children With Speech Sound Disorders: A Survey of Speech-Language Pathologists' Practices, Perspectives, and Strategies

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 1987-1996
Author(s):  
Sherine R. Tambyraja
Keyword(s):  
Parental Involvement ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Speech Therapy ◽  
Speech Sound ◽  
Speech Sound Disorders ◽  
Speech Sound Disorder ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists ◽  
School Based ◽  
Homework Completion

Purpose This study investigated the extent to which speech-language pathologists (SLPs) facilitate parents' completion of homework activities for children with speech sound disorder (SSD). In addition, this study explored factors related to more consistent communication about homework completion and strategies considered particularly effective for supporting this element of parental involvement. Method Licensed SLPs serving at least one child with SSD were invited to participate in an online survey. Questions relevant to this study gathered information regarding (a) frequency of communication about homework distribution and follow-up, (b) demographic and workplace characteristics, and (c) an open-ended question about the specific strategies used to support parental involvement and completion of homework activities. Results Descriptive results indicated considerable variability with respect to how frequently SLPs engaged in communication about homework completion, but that school-based SLPs were significantly less likely to engage in this type of follow-up. Strategies considered effective, however, were similar across therapy contexts. Conclusion These results suggest potentially important differences between school-based services and therapy in other contexts with respect to this particular aspect of service provision for children with SSD.

After Dismissal: Examining the Language, Literacy, and Cognitive Skills of Children With Remediated Speech Sound Disorders

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Farquharson
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Speech Sound ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Speech Sound Disorders ◽  
Academic Difficulties ◽  
The Public ◽  
Age Appropriate ◽  
Language Literacy

Speech sound disorders are a complex and often persistent disorder in young children. For many children, therapy results in successful remediation of the errored productions as well as age-appropriate literacy and academic progress. However, for some children, while they may attain age-appropriate speech production skills, they later have academic difficulties. For SLPs in the public schools, these children present as challenging in terms of both continuing treatment as well as in terms of caseload management. What happens after dismissal? Have these children truly acquired adequate speech production skills? Do they have lingering language, literacy, and cognitive deficits? The purpose of this article is to describe the language, literacy, and cognitive features of a small group of children with remediated speech sound disorders compared to their typically developing peers.

A Survey of the Usage of Nonspeech Oral Motor Exercises by Speech and Language Therapists in the Republic of Ireland

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-40
Author(s):  
Alice Lee ◽  
Niamh Moore
Keyword(s):  
Speech Sound ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Speech Sound Disorders ◽  
Childhood Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Warm Up ◽  
Republic Of Ireland ◽  
Oral Motor ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Oral Motor Exercises

Objective: To collect information on the usage of nonspeech oral motor exercises (NSOMEs) by speech and language therapists (SLTs) for treating speech sound disorders (SSDs) in children in the Republic of Ireland. Method: SLTs who had worked with children with SSDs were invited to complete an online questionnaire adapted from a previous survey conducted in the US by Lof and Watson (2008). Main results:: 22/39 (56%) of the respondents reported using NSOMEs. Information from a colleague about the usefulness of NSOMEs, continuing education, and literature influenced the respondents the most to use NSOMEs. Most respondents used NSOMEs as a “warm up”, mainly with children with childhood apraxia of speech, dysarthria, and Down Syndrome. Conclusion: NSOMEs are used by over half of the respondents despite the lack of evidence that supports this treatment approach. Continuous effort to encourage the application of evidence-based practice in clinics is warranted.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document