NCT07061730

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Hybrid and Traditional Speech Therapy for /ɹ/ and /s/ Sound Production

Genesis: Clinical Trial of Better Speech's Artificial Intelligence Helper for Speech Therapy

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 120 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Syracuse University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 5 Years – 17 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a hybrid Artificial Intelligence-assisted speech therapy model, which combines the use of an AI speech therapist (Jessica) with traditional speech therapy sessions led by a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). This study aims to determine whether the hybrid model improves articulation in children more effectively than traditional SLP-only therapy. Over the course of 8 weeks, participants will receive weekly therapy sessions, and those in the hybrid therapy group will also practice with Jessica between sessions. The study will also gather feedback from parents and speech therapists to assess their experiences and satisfaction with treatment.

Detailed description

The RCT compares two intervention conditions over eight weeks: (1) a hybrid treatment group, where children receive one weekly "treatment as usual" clinician-led tele-practice session PLUS an additional 60 minutes of home practice with Jessica, and (2) a traditional treatment group, where children receive one weekly "treatment as usual" clinician-led tele-practice session. Children from both groups will be assigned to work on either the /ɹ/ or /s/ sound for the duration of the study, depending on their clinical needs. Children are randomized to conditions and stratified by clinicians. The investigators expect to enroll 100 children, 50 in each condition, aged 5-17 from the following states where study-trained SLPs hold valid clinical licenses: CO, NC, WA, KS, MS, IN, MN, MT, AK, NV, OH, VA, FL, GA, AZ, LA, NY, NJ, MI. Participants must be children aged 5;0 to 17;11 who speak American English as a primary language, have no significant cognitive, neurological, or structural speech impairments, score at or below the 10th percentile on the Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation-3 (GFTA 3), have a desire to change their production of /ɹ/ or /s/, and have access to broadband internet for telepractice. Participants with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, epilepsy, significant hearing loss, ADHD, Tourette's, OCD, or orthodontic appliances that block the roof of the mouth are excluded from this clinical trial phase. The investigators hypothesize that the hybrid treatment group will show greater improvement in speech sound learning compared to the traditional group, as measured by expert perceptual ratings of unpracticed words. Additionally, it is expected that children in the hybrid group will achieve mastery of targeted speech sounds in fewer sessions, making speech therapy more efficient and cost-effective. If successful, this study could provide strong evidence supporting the integration of AI-driven home practice into standard speech therapy protocols, leading to broader accessibility and improved outcomes for children with SSDs. Furthermore, an analysis of treatment fidelity and participant engagement with Jessica will offer insights into the practical implementation of AI-assisted speech therapy in real-world clinical settings.

Conditions

• Speech Sound Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Traditional Therapy	The child would receive standard speech therapy, meeting with the SLP once a week for therapy sessions for 8 weeks. These sessions will focus on articulation practice, where your child will work on speech sounds with direct feedback from the SLP.
BEHAVIORAL	Hybrid therapy	The child would receive standard speech therapy, meeting with the SLP once a week for therapy sessions for 8 weeks. These sessions will focus on articulation practice, where your child will work on speech sounds with direct feedback from the SLP. In addition to these weekly sessions, the child will practice using the AI-based speech therapy tool, Jessica, at home between sessions for 60 minutes per week. The tool will provide real-time feedback on the child's articulation and track their progress. The child will be asked to practice specific speech exercises, such as producing target sounds (e.g., /r/, /s/) in words, phrases, or sentences.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-05-01
• Primary completion: 2025-12-31
• Completion: 2026-02-01
• First posted: 2025-07-11
• Last updated: 2025-07-11

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States