Wearable Stuttering Alleviation Device with Real-Time Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current stuttering therapy devices are ineffective in maintaining temporary fluency achieved during clinical sessions or home training, leading to relapse in 84% of adults and teens, as they fail to provide continuous support for fluent speech throughout the day.
Innovation Solution
A device equipped with a speech sensor and processing unit that detects stuttering in real-time, logs occurrences, and provides stimulation based on predefined rules to break the stuttering loop and accelerate the conversion to permanent fluent speech, using a combination of acoustic, vocal cord, and breathing sensors, and tactile or electric stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional stuttering therapy devices provide altered auditory feedback during clinical sessions, then temporary fluency is achieved, but the fluency is not maintained throughout the day leading to relapse
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables continuous monitoring and feedback throughout the day by wearing it on the body, providing uninterrupted anti-stuttering support rather than limited to clinical sessions. The real-time detection and immediate feedback mechanisms ensure continuous useful action in maintaining fluency during everyday life activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate feedback when stuttering is detected through tactile, auditory, or visual signals. This real-time feedback loop allows the user to correct stuttering behavior on the spot, reinforcing fluent speech patterns continuously throughout the day and preventing relapse.
2Productivity
If speech therapists teach mechanic speech shape during clinical sessions, then temporary fluent speech is achieved, but continuous practice throughout the day is difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The device empowers users to independently monitor and correct their own stuttering throughout the day without requiring continuous therapist intervention. The automatic detection and immediate feedback mechanisms enable self-regulation of speech fluency, making continuous practice feasible and effective during everyday activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device enables uninterrupted practice and reinforcement of fluent speech patterns throughout the entire day, transforming sporadic clinical session practice into continuous real-world application. This continuous engagement accelerates the conversion of temporary fluency to permanent fluent speech.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and stimulation mechanisms are integrated into the device, then detection accuracy and feedback effectiveness improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (acoustic, vocal cord, breathing sensors) and stimulation mechanisms (tactile, auditory, visual feedback) into a single integrated wearable device. This merging approach maintains high detection accuracy and feedback effectiveness while consolidating components into one unified system that can be worn on the body.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for stuttering alleviation is disclosed, comprising a speech sensor, configured to output signals indicative of speech, a processing unit configured to detect stuttering, log stuttering and/or produce stimulation indication based on stimulation rules Said device may further comprise a remote server and a server user interface, configured to allow the speech therapist access to the processing unit. Further provided is a method for accelerating the learning procedure for obtaining a permanent fluent speech, comprising receiving and analyzing speech parameters, determining whether a negative reinforcement is required and executing the negative reinforcement.