SBIR-STTR Award

The principal investigator developed, and has employed in private practice over the past two years, a microcomputer-aided stuttering therapy program using an Apple IIe, software, and hardware configuration, which has demonstrated high effectiveness as well as high efficiency in producing fluent, normal sounding speech in adolescents and adults who stutter. The program is easily administered with a minimum of training by any qualified speech pathologist.Phase I funding will be used to perform validation and normative studies with the present system, complete software enhancements, prepare a complete application manual for the userclinician, and prepare specifications and select a developer/manufacturer for adapting the technology now in use for commercial distribution. Following completion of Phase I, the new electronic component must be developed, tested, and put into serial production for marketing.The expected commercial market includes schools (who in general are already equipped with microcomputers), university speech and hearing clinics, private practices, and public health clinics. The product will be marketable both in the United States and abroad, since it appears to be equally effective in English and other languages. The technology also has widespread applicability with voice and respiratory disorders, widening the potential commercial market.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

The principal investigator developed and has employed in private practice over the past three years a microcom puter-aided stuttering therapy program using an Apple IIe, software, and hardware configuration, which has demonstrated high effectivity in producing fluent, normal-sounding speech in adolescents and adults who stutter, as well as high efficiency. The program is easily administered with a minimum of training by any qualified speech pathologist.This Phase II funding will be used to perform validation and normative studies with the new system that was developed under Phase I, and to compare results with those performed under Phase I using the original system. The new electronic components will be thoroughly tested, and field test sites (three of which are now in place) will be supported. Professional workshops will be held both in the United States and abroad. Phase II software development will include a program version for children between the ages of 5 and 9 years, game programs for drill, a home practice program for both children and adults, and conversion for use with the IBM-PC, thus widening the potential commercial market. Experimentation with hardware and software for the addition of frequency analysis to increase the applicability for voice disorders is also planned.National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)