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iPhone finds use in treating stuttering at Hollins Communications Research Institute

Categories: General, iPhone
By: , IntoMobile
Sunday, January 25th, 2009 at 2:24 AM

Who says Apple’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…

About The Author

Dusan Belic

Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/4E3TEGR23PVJEKX5LZYXXPONNU Leroy Jones

    It won’t matter if Hollins adds the I Phone as a stuttering therapy tool, it really won’t help that much but it sounds darn good, right? I mean anyone who has ever taken the original Hollins speech program known as Precision Fluency Shaping Program (PFSP) or the “new” Hollins program (both programs have the exact same speech targets, no difference at all) know that Webster can introduce all the electronic gadgets he wants if a person can’t understand how the program works, and many don’t, or if a person is not ABLE TO DO ALL THE SPEECH TARGETS, WHICH MOST CAN’T, these gadets will not help one bit at all. Actually even if a person DOES KNOW AND CAN DO ALL THE SPEECH TARGETS, and this is rare, THAT PERSON WILL TALK TOO SLOWLY FOR NORMAL CONVERSATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ALSO MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE FLUENT at a normal rate of speed DON’T USE ALL THE SPEECH TARGETS AND MODIFY THEM FOR PERSONAL USE!!!!!! These gadgets will not help with these problems, which for the vast majority of PFSP/Hollins clients have. I mean for a guy like Webster who has a PHD in Clincal Psychology and has come up with a behavior modification program/speech therapy program he would be the best person to figure out how to help people USE HIS PROGRAM outside of the lab but he is not interested. He only believes in Skinner, no one else, and does not care for why else would he come up with electronic stuff year after years which does not work ONLY SOUNDS GOOD! I guess that is how he solves his personal problems, only works on the behavior. And he only seems to use people to advertise his program who had a mild problem in the first place (John Stoessel). Just look at his videos of graduates and see for yourself how slowly they speak. Oh, notice how there are no comments, he reviews each one!!!! John Stoessel should not be used for advertising.