SpeechEasy: Altered auditory feedback in Adults with Persistent Developmental Stuttering

The purpose of this proposed study is to assess how one widely-marketed device for the treatment of stuttering (i.e., SpeechEasy) influences stuttering in adults with persistent developmental stuttering (PDS). The first experiment is designed to examine specific parameters (delayed auditory feedback-DAF, frequency altered feedback-FAF settings, Ear Placement-Right versus Left Ear) on amelioration of stuttering. A second experiment is designed to determine whether there is a relationship between atypical auditory temporal anatomy and response to altered auditory feedback (SpeechEasy) in adults with PDS. Results of the proposed project should have important theoretical, and therapeutic implications for the use of such devices to treat stuttering in adults who stutter. Future studies may propose to examine mechanisms of treatment of stuttering with the SpeechEasy in children with PDS. EXPERIMENT 1: Influence of Altered Auditory Feedback on Stuttering Background and Significance There are numerous reports regarding the use of altered auditory feedback to enhance fluency in individuals with developmental stuttering (e.g., Armson, Kiefte, Mason, & DeCroos, 2006; Stuart, Kalinowski, Armson, Stenstrom & Jones, 1996; Van Riper, 1973, pp. 116-139). These alterations have involved such procedures as low-pass and high-pass auditory masking (e.g., Conture, 1974), delayed auditory feedback (DAF) (Van Riper, 1973), and frequency altered feedback (FAF) (Armson et al., 2006). To greater or lesser degrees, these various alterations in speaker’s auditory feedback for speech have been shown to reduce stuttering during reading as well as conversational speech. With recent advances in digital technology, however, one such device has been widely marketed and empirically studied, that is, the SpeechEasy (2001), a small device that can be worn like a hearing aid. This device can be adjusted in terms of DAF as well as FAF parameters. According to SpeechEasy’s associated marketing literature, such adjustments or alterations in auditory feedback for speech supposedly mimic the effects of choral reading. One empirical study (Armson et al., 2006) showed that the SpeechEasy reduced stuttering events by 49%, 36%, and 74% respectively for conversation, monologue, and reading. Fluency was even more enhanced in all speaking conditions with the instruction to deliberately prolong vowels. Thus, the purpose of this project is to assess how one widely-marketed device for the treatment of stuttering (i.e., SpeechEasy) influences stuttering in adults with persistent developmental stuttering (PDS).