Wednesday, September 03, 2008

AAF not effective?

Here is a study that claims that there is no clear fluency gains when using altered auditory feedback in a real environment:

1: J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2008 Aug 11.

Effects of the SpeechEasy on objective and perceived aspects of stuttering: a six-month, Phase I clinical trial in naturalistic environments.

University of Colorado at Boulder.

PURPOSE: Effects of the SpeechEasy when used under extra-clinical conditions over several months were investigated. Primary purposes were to help establish Phase I level information about the therapeutic utility of the SpeechEasy and compare those results to previous findings obtained in laboratory and clinical settings. 

METHOD: Eleven adults who stutter participated. A nonrandomized, ABA group design was utilized. Speech samples were collected every two weeks in extra-clinical environments. Qualitative data was collected through weekly written logs and an exit questionnaire.

 RESULTS: Group analyses revealed a statistically significant effect of the SpeechEasy immediately post-fitting, but no treatment effect across four months' time. Individual responses varied greatly with regard to stuttering frequency and subjective impressions. Relatively more stuttering reduction occurred during oral reading than formulated speech. 

CONCLUSIONS: Based on this protocol, Phase II trials are not indicated. However, positive individual responses and self-reports suggest some clinical utility for the SpeechEasy. The use of more challenging sampling procedures strengthened external validity and captured more modest altered auditory feedback effects compared to those previously reported in laboratory settings. Device use coincided more so with positive subjective impressions than measurable fluency improvement, highlighting challenges facing clinicians when implementing principles of evidence-based practice, including client-based preferences.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is not too much of a surprise to me. I have owned a speech easy device for several years now and rarely use it. The benefits are not effective enough to have me use it and sacrifice the hearing out of one ear and face questions as to why I am wearing a "hearing aid".

Anonymous said...

I got rid of my speech easy device cuz it kept shorting out when I went swimming... ;-)

Anonymous said...

I can't say this study is very revealing. I mean, as far as finding a stuttering cure is concerned no one cure seems to work for every one. I wouldn't be suprised if some people find it helpful.. but like most treatments for stammering, they only work sometime (speech therapy.. uh humm)

Tommy

Stuttering Cure