Implementation of a Generative AI-Powered Digital Interactive Platform for Clinical Language Therapy in Children with...

Early intervention is pivotal for optimizing neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with language delay, where increased language stimulation can optimize therapeutic outcomes. Extending speech-language therapy from clinical settings to the home is a promising strategy; however, practical barriers and a lack of scalable, customizable home-based models limit the implementation of this approach. The integration of AI-powered digital interactive tools could bridge this gap. This pilot feasibility study adopted a single-arm pre-post (before-after) design within a two-phase, mixed-methods framework to evaluate a generative AI-powered interactive platform supporting home-based language therapy in children with either idiopathic language delay or autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-related language impairment: two conditions known to involve heterogeneous developmental profiles. The participants received clinical language assessments and engaged in home-based training using AI-enhanced tablet software, and 2000 audio recordings were collected and analyzed to assess pre- and postintervention language abilities. A total of 22 children aged 2-12 years were recruited, with 19 completing both phases. Based on 6-week cumulative usage, participants were stratified with respect to hours of AI usage into Groups A (≤5 h, n = 5), B (5 < h ≤ 10, n = 5), C (10 < h ≤ 15, n = 4), and D (>15 h, n = 5). A threshold effect was observed: only Group D showed significant gains between baseline and postintervention, with total words (58→110, p = 0.043), characters (98→192, p = 0.043), type-token ratio (0.59→0.78, p = 0.043), nouns (34→56, p = 0.043), verbs (12→34, p = 0.043), and mean length of utterance (1.83→3.24, p = 0.043) all improving. No significant changes were found in Groups A to C. These findings indicate the positive impact of extended use on the development of language. Generative AI-powered digital interactive tools, when they are integrated into home-based language therapy programs, can significantly improve language outcomes in children who have language delay and ASD. This approach offers a scalable, cost-effective extension of clinical care to the home, demonstrating the potential to enhance therapy accessibility and long-term outcomes.