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Updated: May 20, 2026
05:43
Applying Incongruent Visual-Tactile Stimuli during Object Transfer with Vibro-Tactile Feedback
Published on: May 23, 2019
Novel tactile feedback to reduce overt stuttering.
Dwight E Waddell1, Paul M Goggans, Gregory J Snyder
1Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, Turner Center 215, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA. waddell@olemiss.edu
Neuroreport
|July 11, 2012
Summary
Tactile speech feedback significantly improves fluency for adults who stutter. This technology captures vocalizations and returns them as mechanical feedback, reducing stuttering instances by up to 80%.
Area of Science:
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Stuttering affects approximately 1% of the global population, impacting speech fluency.
- Previous research indicates that auditory speech feedback can reduce stuttering.
- Persistent stuttering in adults often requires innovative therapeutic approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of tactile speech feedback in enhancing speech fluency for adults who stutter.
- To compare the effectiveness of microphone- and accelerometer-based tactile feedback systems.
- To quantify the reduction in stuttering instances using self-generated tactile feedback.
Main Methods:
- Adult participants who stutter received tactile speech feedback via microphone or accelerometer.
- Vocalizations were captured, processed, and delivered as mechanical feedback to the speaker's skin.
- A repeated measures analysis of variance compared fluency in feedback conditions versus a no-feedback control.
Main Results:
- Both microphone-driven (71% reduction) and accelerometer-driven (80% reduction) tactile feedback significantly increased speech fluency compared to the control.
- Accelerometer-driven tactile feedback demonstrated a slightly higher reduction in stuttering instances.
- Self-generated tactile feedback proved effective in reducing overt stuttering.
Conclusions:
- Tactile speech feedback is a viable and effective method for improving speech fluency in adults with persistent stuttering.
- This technology offers a novel approach to stuttering management.
- Further research into optimizing tactile feedback parameters may yield even greater fluency gains.
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