A device for stuttering is one of the many options for treatment. While the majority of research on these devices is conducted in speech clinics, some of these devices are designed for use without speech therapy. In either case, the device provides altered auditory feedback to mimic a normal conversation. This is known as delayed-onset fluency (DAF).
These onset of stuttering in adults work by mimicking a choral effect while helping the person speak fluently. They are often combined with traditional fluency techniques to give stutterers confidence in communicating. The SpeechEasy device is similar to a hearing aid and is worn in the ear. Many people with stuttering have experienced significant improvements in their communication, and thousands of users have found it helps them to improve their fluency.
The stuttering device works by providing delayed and frequency altered auditory feedback to the user. The effect of these sounds creates a choral effect, which nearly all stutterers experience when speaking together. Almost all stutterers will become fluent when they talk in unison with other people. The device works by triggering the brain's speech motors and thereby reducing the stuttering frequency.
The SpeechEasy device was used for three years, and it was found to reduce stuttering by 75%. It was purchased by twelve people, nine of whom went on to improve their speech. Afterward, the subjects were re-tested seven months later to determine whether they were still seeing improvements in their speech. One of them even improved their stuttering levels by 8%. These results are encouraging for the future of the device.
Researchers are trying to understand the neurogenic basis of stuttering. Similar to motor tremor, stuttering is characterized by abnormal neural activity in specific brain regions. This abnormality can be reduced by electrical stimulation or by the delivery of drugs to the brain. A study on a human brain region, the thalamus, has shown a positive effect on tremor. However, it is still unclear what causes stuttering.
In a recent study, Riley (2009) found that the reliability of a stuttering device depends on the way the stutterer produces speech. This tool is based on the Stuttering Severity Index (SSI-4), which measures stuttering severity. Stuttering severity is often measured in words and syllables per minute, and the frequency of stuttering is assessed. Get a general overview of this topic here: https://www.encyclopedia.com/medicine/divisions-diagnostics-and-procedures/medicine/hearing-aid.
