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Speech and Language Technology Applied to Speech Impediment Therapy

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Acoustics and Vibrations".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2024) | Viewed by 5562

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Information and Communications Engineering, Aalto University, 02002 Espoo, Finland
Interests: new machine learning methods for speech recognition, paralinguistics; interpreting and understanding how deep learning models work; explanability; medical AI

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are inviting submissions to the Special Issue entitled “Speech and Language Technology Applied to Speech Impediment Therapy”.

Speech is an important way of expressing our thoughts and feelings. Unfortunately, various types of speech impediments affecting articulation, fluency and phonology could hinder an individual's communication ability. Diagnosing whether the problem is caused by physical, motor, sensory, neurological or mental health issues is a fundamental task for speech therapists, as is implementing the correct therapy to treat the speech impediment. Deep-Learning-fueled Speech and Language Technology models have the potential to become the new "stethoscope" for speech pathologists, as such systems could enable patients to conduct therapy in the comfort of their home without a medical expert present and still receive expert feedback in real time. New techniques employing Speech and Language Technology to aid the treatment of stuttering, apraxia, dysarthria, lisping, and other speech sound disorders are on the rise and showcase great potential, but they are often hindered by the low amount of available data. Naturally, these new solutions must undergo rigorous testing, including clinical trials, to ensure their advantages outweigh their potential shortcomings.

In this Special Issue, we invite submissions exploring state-of-the-art research, applications and recent advancements in Speech and Language Technology developed for Speech Impediment Therapy. Both experimental studies and comprehensive survey papers are welcome.

Dr. Tamás Grósz
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • AI-assisted speech therapy
  • computer-assisted pronunciation training (CAPT)
  • disfluency detection
  • fluency assesment
  • speech and language technology
  • speech assessment
  • speech therapy
  • speech sound disorder
  • stuttering

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 5004 KiB  
Article
Changes in Articulatory Contact Pressure as a Function of Vocal Loudness
by Jeff Searl and Paul Evitts
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(19), 8853; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14198853 - 1 Oct 2024
Viewed by 575
Abstract
This study evaluated the impact of vocal loudness on the articulatory contact pressure (ACP) between the tongue and palate during the production of lingua-alveolar consonants. Fourteen adults with typical speech produced phrases with the phonemes /t, d, s/ embedded while ACP was sensed [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the impact of vocal loudness on the articulatory contact pressure (ACP) between the tongue and palate during the production of lingua-alveolar consonants. Fourteen adults with typical speech produced phrases with the phonemes /t, d, s/ embedded while ACP was sensed with a miniature pressure transducer attached to a palatal appliance. Stimuli were produced at four loudness levels: habitual, twice as loud (loud), half as loud (soft), and whisper. There was a statistically significant difference in ACP as a function of loudness for all three phonemes (p < 0.001 for each). Post hoc comparisons indicated that ACP during loud speech was significantly greater than habitual for each phoneme. ACP during soft speech was significantly less than habitual for /t/ and /d/, but not /s/. Whispered speech ACP values were significantly lower than soft for /t/ and /d/, but not /s/. The results indicate that changes in vocal loudness cause changes in ACP that are most evident for stop consonants /t, d/, and, to a lesser extent, the fricative /s/. A louder voice was associated with higher ACP. Elevated ACP may have implications for oral aerodynamics that could help explain why loud-focused clinical treatments improve articulation, although this remains to be empirically confirmed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Speech and Language Technology Applied to Speech Impediment Therapy)
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22 pages, 6958 KiB  
Article
Wearable Voice Dosimetry System
by Marcos Llorente, Adam Podhorski and Secundino Fernandez
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(13), 5806; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14135806 - 3 Jul 2024
Viewed by 686
Abstract
The objective quantification of voice acoustic parameters is used for the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of voice disorders. Such assessments are carried out with specialised equipment within the doctor’s office. The controlled conditions employed are usually not those of the real environment of [...] Read more.
The objective quantification of voice acoustic parameters is used for the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of voice disorders. Such assessments are carried out with specialised equipment within the doctor’s office. The controlled conditions employed are usually not those of the real environment of the patient. The results, although very informative, are specific to those measurement conditions and to the time when they were performed. A wearable voice monitoring system, based on an accelerometer to ensure the message, can overcome these limitations. We present a miniaturised, low-power, and low-cost wearable system to estimate and record voice fundamental frequency (F0), intensity and phonation time for long intervals in the everyday environment of the patient. It was tested on two subjects for up to two weeks of recording time. It was possible to identify distinct periods in vocal activity, such as normal, professional, demanding or hyperfunctional. It provided information on the workload that the vocal cords needed to cope with over time and when and to what extent that workload was concentrated. The proposed voice dosimetry system enables the extraction and recording of voice parameters for long periods of time in the everyday environment of the patient, allowing the objectification of vocal risk situations and personalised treatment and monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Speech and Language Technology Applied to Speech Impediment Therapy)
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14 pages, 6126 KiB  
Article
Interacting with Smart Virtual Assistants for Individuals with Dysarthria: A Comparative Study on Usability and User Preferences
by Aisha Jaddoh, Fernando Loizides, Omer Rana and Yasir Ahmed Syed
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 1409; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14041409 - 8 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1192
Abstract
This study explores the effectiveness and user experience of different interaction methods used by individuals with dysarthria when engaging with Smart Virtual Assistants (SVAs). It focuses on three primary modalities: direct speech commands through Alexa, non-verbal voice cues via the Daria system, and [...] Read more.
This study explores the effectiveness and user experience of different interaction methods used by individuals with dysarthria when engaging with Smart Virtual Assistants (SVAs). It focuses on three primary modalities: direct speech commands through Alexa, non-verbal voice cues via the Daria system, and eye gaze control. The objective is to assess the usability, workload, and user preferences associated with each method, catering to the varying communication capabilities of individuals with dysarthria. While Alexa and Daria facilitate voice-based interactions, eye gaze control offers an alternative for those unable to use voice commands, including users with severe dysarthria. This comparative approach aims to determine how the usability of each interaction method varies, conducted with eight participants with dysarthria. The results indicated that non-verbal voice interactions, particularly with the Daria system, were favored because of their lower workload and ease of use. The eye gaze technology, while viable, presented challenges in terms of the higher workload and usability. These findings highlight the necessity of diversifying interaction methods with SVAs to accommodate the unique needs of individuals with dysarthria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Speech and Language Technology Applied to Speech Impediment Therapy)
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Review

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34 pages, 1030 KiB  
Review
Biography of Muscle Tension Dysphonia: A Scoping Review
by Sol Ferrán, Octavio Garaycochea, David Terrasa, Natalia Díaz Zufiaurre, Juan Alcalde and Secundino Fernández
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 2030; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14052030 - 29 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2163
Abstract
Background: Muscle Tension Dysphonia is a relatively new clinical entity that, despite being one of the most frequent causes of functional dysphonia, is little-known by many otorhinolaryngologists. Objective: The objective of the current work is to describe the evolution of Muscle [...] Read more.
Background: Muscle Tension Dysphonia is a relatively new clinical entity that, despite being one of the most frequent causes of functional dysphonia, is little-known by many otorhinolaryngologists. Objective: The objective of the current work is to describe the evolution of Muscle Tension Dysphonia—the concepts and the ways it has been diagnosed and treated—from its first descriptions to our current knowledge. Design: A scoping review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. A search of three bibliographic databases was performed to identify original articles on Muscle Tension Dysphonia. Study selection and characterization was conducted by three independent reviewers and was further reviewed by a fourth individual. In case of relocating any of the studies, it was performed by agreement of two reviewers. We excluded articles not written in English or Spanish, letters to the editor, review articles, studies of the pediatric population, articles related to dysphagia, and other publications that were not relevant. Results: The search identified 1144 articles published from 1983 to December 2022. A total of 581 studies were repeated and another 462 were excluded because they were not written in English or Spanish, were not original articles, or were not relevant to the objective of the study. Finally, 101 articles were included in the review. The articles included in the review were divided into three groups considering the objective and conclusions of each study: 21 articles were classified as “Etiology and Physiopathology”, 29 articles as “Diagnosis”, and 51 articles were included in the “Treatment” group. Conclusions: The concept of Muscle Tension Dysphonia has been developed during the last forty years. For its diagnosis, endoscopic visualization of the larynx is crucial, but must be combined with the patient’s clinical history and other methods can also be useful. This entity should be addressed in a multidisciplinary approach, with the active participation of speech therapists. Most therapeutic options include voice education, vocal hygiene, and rehabilitation of the voice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Speech and Language Technology Applied to Speech Impediment Therapy)
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