Methods and devices for delivering exogenously generated speech signals to enhance fluency in persons who stutter

• US 6,754,632 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2000
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: East Carolina University
• Original Assignee: East Carolina University
• Inventors: Stuart, Andrew, Kalinowski, Joseph, Rastatter, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorvil, Richemond
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lerner, Martin
• Application Number:
  US09/665,192
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270, 704/271, 600/23, 600/24, 434/185
• US Class Current: 704/271
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/58 Apparatus for correcting stammering or stuttering
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2021/0575 Aids for the handicapped in speaking

Abstract

Methods and devices generate an exogenous natural second speech signal as an auditory stimulus to a user to enhance the fluency of persons who stutter. The natural speech signal is independent of the contemporaneous speech production of the stutterer and is provided by a voice gesture and can be a prolonged or sustained voice gesture sound such as a simple vowel, or consonant, or vowel trains and the like. The second speech signal can be transmitted in advance of a speaking event or speech production of the stutterer and/or concurrently with a speaking event, either intermittently or continuous during the speaking event. The devices of the instant invention are configured to provide the voice based speech signal such that it is audible to the user and does not require feedback of the user'"'"'s own speech allowing the user to speak at a substantially normal pace with enhanced fluency. The device and methods can relay the signal based on a manual activation or automatically based on a detection of speech or a stuttering event on the part of the user.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing the fluency of persons who stutter, comprising:

exogenously generating a speech signal of at least one prolonged voice gesture;

producing speech defining a first speech signal corresponding to the patient speaking, the patient having a propensity to stutter during speech production; and

intermittently delivering the exogenously generated speech signal to the patient temporally proximate to said producing step such that the exogenously generated speech signal is audible thereto to thereby enhance the fluency of the patient.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one prolonged voice gesture speech signal comprises a predetermined prolonged substantially steady vowel sound.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said delivering step is carried out in advance of and temporally proximate to said producing step.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the patient speaks at substantially normal speech speeds during said producing step.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said exogenously generated speech signal comprises a prolonged /a/ sound.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the prolonged /a/ sound is sustained for at least about 2 seconds.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said delivering step is provided before and then intermittently during said producing step.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said exogenously generated speech signal comprises a substantially continuant single syllabic vowel sound sustained for at least about 5 seconds.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said exogenously generated speech signal comprises a substantially continuant single consonant sound having a duration of at least about 5 seconds.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said exogenously generated speech signal comprises a plurality of prolonged predetermined voice gesture sounds spoken by a person other than the patient and electronically stored and reproduced using a portable device including at least one of (a) a prolonged vowel train sound and, (b) a prolonged vowel sound.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said exogenously generated speech signal comprises a plurality of said prolonged sounds serially delivered to the patient so that each is delivered temporally spaced apart from the other.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically detecting a stuttering event when the patient is speaking and initiating the delivery step upon the detection of the stuttering event.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said delivering step is automatically selectively carried out in response to said detecting step.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein said delivering step is carried out responsive to user input to initiate said delivering step.

15. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing in an audio medium the exogenously generated signal, wherein said exogenously generated speech signal is provided by a spoken voice from a person other than the patient.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said delivering step is carried out by transmitting the stored exogenously generated speech signal.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said delivering step is repeated a plurality of times during said producing step.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein said exogenously generated speech signal comprises a plurality of different spoken prolonged voice gesture sounds, each having a sustained duration which is at least about 10 seconds long.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein said delivering step is carried out such that said exogenous signal is transmitted from a source which is positioned proximate to at least one ear of the patient.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein said delivering step is carried out such that said exogenous speech signal is transmitted from a location which is remote from the ear of the patient and travels through the air and into the ear of the patient while the patient is speaking, wherein the exogenous speech signal is generated by a portable compact and/or wearable device with an integral speaker.

21. A method according to claim 18, wherein said exogenous speech signal is adjustable by the patient so that the patient can select a desired signal duration, a desired prolonged voice gesture sound, and volume to be provided during said delivering step.

22. A method according to claim 15, wherein said delivering step includes the step of transmitting the exogenously generated speech signal from a communication device at a location that is remote from an ear receptacle thereof.

23. A method according to claim 1, wherein said exogenously generated speech signal comprises a plurality of electronically recorded predetermined spoken prolonged voice gesture speech signals, and wherein said delivering step comprises varying which of the prolonged voice gesture speech signals is delivered to the patient over time.

24. A method according to claim 1, wherein said exogenously generated speech signal comprises a stuttered spoken speech signal which is incongruous with the content of the speech provided by the patient during said producing step.

25. A method according to claim 1, wherein said exogenously generated speech signal comprises a prolonged vowel sound having a duration of at least about 2 seconds.

26. A method according to claim 15, wherein said delivering step is carried out by one of an over-the-ear, behind-the-ear and in-the-ear device.

27. A method according to claim 15, wherein said recording step is performed by recording said exogenously generated speech signal onto a compact disk.

28. A method according to claim 1, wherein said delivering step generates the prolonged voice gesture so that the speech signal has a duration that is less than 2 minutes and is intermittently repeated during said producing step with between about 10 seconds to about 2 minutes between successive delivering steps.

29. A method according to claim 15, wherein said delivering step is carried out by one of a portable hand held device or, a wireless communication device or telephone at a location that is remote from an ear receptacle thereof.

30. A method according to claim 15, wherein said delivering step is carried out by a device configured to be worn as one of a belt clip, watch, hat, lapel, jacket, and pin, which is adapted to be positioned, in operation, such that it is in audible communication with the patient and devoid of head or ear sets so as to directly transmit the signal from the device through the air and into the ear canal of the user.

31. A device to enhance the fluency of persons who stutter, comprising:

an audio storage medium comprising at least one pre-determined exogenously generated auditory stimulus speech signal thereon, wherein the at least one predetermined auditory stimulus signal comprises at least one prolonged voice gesture;

a speaker operably associated with said audio storage medium;

a power source in communication with said audio storage medium and said speaker; and

an activation switch operably associated with said power source;

wherein said auditory stimulus speech signal is configured to be repeatedly output to a user at desired times corresponding to at least one of during an episodic stuttering event on the part of the user, in advance of the production of speech by the user, and intermittently during the production of speech of the user to thereby provide an auditory stimulus to the user who stutters to enhance the fluency of speech thereof.

32. A device according to claim 31, wherein said auditory stimulus speech signal is configured to generate a prolonged voice gesture having a prolonged vowel sound with a duration of at least about 2 seconds, wherein said device further comprises a user input trigger switch operably associated with said speaker, and wherein said user input trigger switch is configured to accept user input to initiate a substantially immediate delivery of said auditory stimulus speech signal such that it is audible to the user.

33. A device according to claim 31, wherein said device further comprises a microphone and a signal processor configured to receive and analyze a speech signal generated by the user'"'"'s speech.

34. A device according to claim 33, wherein said device is configured to automatically output said auditory stimulus speech signal to the user from said speaker based on an analysis of the user'"'"'s speech, such that said auditory stimulus speech signal is provided with the user'"'"'s speech for a duration of between about 2 seconds to 2 minutes, and is incongruous with the content of the user'"'"'s speech, and wherein said auditory stimulus speech signal is delivered in a manner which allows the user to speak at a substantially normal speech pace.

35. A device according to claim 34, wherein, in operation, said device is configured to identify the initiation and termination of speech production by the user by monitoring the signal received by said microphone and said signal processor, and wherein said device is configured to intermittently output said auditory stimulus speech signal while the user is speaking so that the auditory stimulus signal has a duration that is less than about 2 minutes and so that successive auditory stimulus signals are output to the user temporally spaced apart with at least about 10 seconds between successive auditory signals.

36. A device according to claim 31, wherein said device is configured to provide said auditory stimulus speech signal intermittently during the user'"'"'s speech, with the auditory stimulus speech signal providing at least one prolonged vowel sound having a duration of between about 2 seconds to about 2 minutes and in a manner which allows the user to speak at a substantially normal speech pace.

37. A device according to claim 36, wherein said auditory stimulus speech signal has a prolonged single syllabic vowel sound with a duration of at least about 5 seconds which is configured to be provided in advance of when the user speaks and/or intermittently while the user speaks.

38. A device according to claim 33, wherein said device further comprises a detector operably associated with said processor and said microphone, said detector configured to detect the onset of or an actual stuttering event, and wherein, in operation, upon recognition of the initiation of an impending or actual stuttering event on the part of the user, said device intermittently provides said auditory stimulus speech signal for a duration of between about 2 seconds to 2 minutes.

39. A device according to claim 31, wherein said auditory stimulus speech signal comprises a plurality of predetermined different exogenously generated auditory stimulus spoken speech signals, each having different prolonged voice gesture sounds, and wherein said plurality of different signals are configured to be serially output to the user at desired temporally spaced apart times with a plurality of prolonged voice gesture sounds in the different auditory stimulus signals having a duration of between about 2 seconds to 2 minutes.

40. A device according to claim 31, wherein said at least one auditory stimulus speech signal is a plurality of different exogenously generated auditory stimulus signals, each sound comprising at least one prolonged vowel sound having a duration of between about 2 seconds to about 2 minutes, the different auditory signals are configured to be are output to the user such that they are temporally separated in time.

41. A device according to claim 31, wherein said device is configured with a user activation switch which allows the device to provide said auditory stimulus speech signal in advance of and temporally proximate to the user speaking.

42. A device according to claim 31, wherein said auditory stimulus speech signal comprises at least one spoken prolonged single syllabic voice gesture sound.

43. A device according to claim 42, wherein each of said at least one prolonged voice gesture sounds is sustained in a substantially steady state audible range for at least about 5 seconds.

44. A device according to claim 31 wherein said auditory stimulus speech signal comprises a steady state /a/ vowel sound sustained in a substantially steady state audible range for at least about 5 seconds.

45. A device according to claim 31, wherein said auditory stimulus speech signal comprises a steady state consonant sound sustained in a substantially steady state audible range for at least about 5 seconds.

46. A device according to claim 31, wherein said exogenously generated auditory stimulus speech signal comprises a plurality of prolonged spoken voice gesture sounds including at least one of (a) a sustained vowel train sound lasting between about 2 seconds to 2 minutes, and (b) a sustained single vowel sound lasting between about 2 seconds to 2 minutes.

47. A device according to claim 31, wherein said exogenously generated auditory stimulus speech signal comprises a plurality of different prolonged vowel voice gesture sounds, each having a sustained audible duration which is at least about 10 seconds long.

48. A device according to claim 31, wherein said device is configured such that it is portable, and wherein, in use, said speaker is sized and configured to reside proximate the ear of the user such that said exogenously generated auditory stimulus speech signal is input into at least one ear of the user.

49. A device according to claim 31, wherein, during operation, said speaker is in audible communication with the user but is remotely located from the user such that said speech signal is output from said speaker in said device from a location away from the patient and then travels greater than about 3 inches through the air before entering into the ear of the patient while the patient is speaking, and wherein the device is a compact portable and/or wearable device with an integral speaker.

50. A device according to claim 31, wherein said device is incorporated into the body of a telephone away from an ear receptacle thereof.

51. A device according to claim 31, wherein said auditory stimulus speech signal is a recorded stuttered speech signal.

52. A device according to claim 31, wherein said auditory stimulus speech signal comprises a prolonged vowel sound recording provided by a person having normal fluency.

53. A device according to claim 31, wherein said device is configured as one of an over-the-ear, behind-the-ear, and in-the-ear device.

54. A device according to claim 31, wherein said audio storage medium is a compact disk.

55. A device according to claim 31, wherein said audio storage medium comprises a DSP.

56. A device according to claim 31, wherein said device is incorporated into one of a portable hand held device, a writing implement, and a wireless communication device or telephone at a location that is remote from an ear receptacle thereof.

57. A device according to claim 31, wherein said device is configured to be worn as one of a belt clip, watch, hat, lapel, jacket, eyeglass frame, and pin and so that the device is devoid of head or ear sets so as to directly transmit the signal from the device through the air and into the ear canal of the user.

58. A device according to claim 31, further comprising a remote control unit configured to activate the output of said auditory speech signal.

59. A product for enhancing the fluency of a person who stutters, comprising an audio storage medium comprising an exogenously generated speech signal including at least one prolonged voice gesture sound having a duration of between about 2 seconds to 2 minutes and generated by a person other than the person using the product to enhance their speaking fluency, wherein in operation, said exogenous speech signal is adapted to be relayed to a user as an auditory stimulus that is output intermittently to the user to enhance the fluency of the user who stutters.

60. A product according to claim 59, wherein the at least one prolonged voice gesture includes a predetermined prolonged vowel sound.

61. A product according to claim 60, wherein the prolonged vowel sound comprises a prolonged /a/ sound that has a duration of greater than 2 seconds.

62. A product according to claim 61, wherein the prolonged /a/ sound has a duration of at least about 5 seconds.

63. A product according to claim 59, wherein the at least one prolonged voice gesture comprises a prolonged sonorant sound.

64. A product according to claim 59, wherein the exogenous speech signal in the audio storage medium primarily comprises prolonged vowel and/or consonant sounds.

65. A product according to claim 59, wherein the exogenous speech signal in the audio storage medium consists essentially of prolonged voice gestures.