iPhone finds use in treating stuttering at Hollins Communications Research Institute

Who says Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s iPhone is just for entertainment? Scientists at Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI) have completed successful trials using the iPhone as a stuttering therapy tool to “enhance the transfer of new fluency skills from the clinical setting into real-life situations.”

From the official release:

The iPhone device was programmed at HCRI with a sophisticated voice monitoring system that evaluates and scores speech behaviors taught during stuttering therapy. When clients use the device during training in outside situations, such as in a shopping mall, restaurant or business setting, fluency measurements for each utterance are displayed on the iPhone screen. Having this data immediately available to stuttering therapy program participants makes speech practice more effective and helps improve the speed with which fluency results are achieved.

In addition, the iPhone records every speech sample in an onboard file for later transmission to HCRI. This information enables the institute’s therapists to provide more detailed and precise training to clients, as they learn to apply new speech capabilities in everyday situations.

The iPhone has exceeded expectations during trials with client scores in outside trials being similar to those made in the clinical environment. As a result, Apple’s handset will become a regular component of HCRI’s stuttering treatment during the week of January 26, 2009…