Systematic Review of Virtual Speech Therapists for Speech Disorders
Computer Speech & Language
Chen, Y. -P. P., Johnson, C., et al. (2016).
Computer Speech & Language, 37, 98-128.
This systematic review investigates the effect of virtual speech therapy (e.g., interactive computer programs) on speech production and/or speech comprehension in children and adults with articulation and phonological disorders.
Not stated
2004 through July 28, 2014
Various study designs including: meta-analysis; systematic reviews; control trials; randomized control trials; cohort study designs; case
series designs; case report designs
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<div>In just over half of the studies (3/5), VSTs, or computer-based speech therapy programs, showed statistically significant improvements in articulation and speech for individuals with hearing loss. The authors found no consensus on whether VSTs were superior to in-person speech pathology interventions.</div>
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<div>Limitations of this review include low study quality, small sample sizes, and variable interventions and outcome measures across studies. Additional research is needed to investigate VST interventions.</div>
<div>Findings from a limited number of studies suggest that computer-based programs with VSTs may improve outcomes for adults with aphasia or dysarthria. Three small studies demonstrated improved language outcomes in adults with aphasia, while two our of three small studies demonstrated improved speech outcomes for adults with dysarthria. </div>
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<div>Limitations of this review include low study quality, small sample sizes, and variable interventions and outcome measures across studies. Additional research is needed to investigate VST interventions.</div>
<div>Findings indicated that automatic speech recognition (ASR), speech synthesis, and speech corpus were common choices to enrich computer-based speech therapy programs (i.e., VSTs). "The technical challenges of integrating cutting-edge technologies to develop a united functional VSTs dwarfs the clinical challenges" (p. 127).</div>
<div>Results indicated virtual speech therapists (VSTs), defined as a computer-based program, are effective; however, no consensus was found for VSTs being more effective than human speech pathologists.</div>
