T
HE FIRST PROJECT of its kind is
helping children in Edinburgh and
the Lothians to overcome speech
sound disorders at QMU.
Experts from the pioneering Clinical
Audiology, Speech and Language Research
Centre (CASL) and the University of
Strathclyde are working with Articulate
Instruments Ltd to help 20 youngsters
aged six to 15 find their voices with unique
ultrasound technology and clinical treatment
methods.
The £140,000 UltraPhonix project is
evaluating the effectiveness of using
ultrasound as a visual biofeedback tool to
help treat a range of speech sound disorders
that have been unresponsive to traditional
speech therapy methods.
Speech sound disorders are very common
in childhood, affecting at least 6.5% of
primary school aged children - around
two children in every classroom. Such
disorders make children’s speech difficult
to understand, in turn affecting social skills
and educational attainment.
Most children who have difficulty creating
the correct speech sounds receive therapy
which relies on listening skills. The child must
listen to their own speech sounds and follow
instructions provided by the clinician to try
to modify them. However, with these more
traditional methods, some children struggle
to improve their speech, and the clinician
might even be uncertain about what is really
going on inside the mouth.
Since speech is made with the tongue,
and the tongue is largely hidden from view,
this means that observations of the speech
disorder and feedback on how to improve
it need to be indirect.
Ultrasound makes it possible for children
to visualise their efforts to make new
tongue shapes and sequences of tongue
movements, getting direct and immediate
feedback which also lets the clinician guide
their progress on the basis of otherwise
inaccessible information.
Unique software designed by the group
provides example target shapes and
sequences for the children to attempt to
copy and allows the children’s own efforts
to be played back so that they can see and
hear their progress.
Instrumentation is not often used in
speech and language therapy practice due
to start-up costs or incompatibilities with
the clinical environment such as portability,
complexity and time needed to operate and
maintain the technology. These factors then
contribute to a lack of rigorous evidence
that demonstrates effectiveness. The
UltraPhonix project is an important step
towards breaking this cycle, and providing
the evidence needed to support the use of
ultrasound, by providing clinical treatment at
QMU by a dedicated research team.
The 18-month month UltraPhonix project
is due to be completed in November 2016.
Dr Joanne Cleland (University of
Strathclyde), lead clinical researcher on
the project, said: “The research is already
showing positive results, with children
learning to produce speech sounds they
have previously found impossible within just
a few session of ultrasound-based therapy.
Professor Jim Scobbie, Director of the
Clinical Audiology, Speech and Language
Research Centre (CASL) at QMU, explained:
"We’re forging ahead as leaders in this
field. We are the main group in Europe
for the investigation and development
of ultrasound as a speech and language
therapy assessment and treatment tool.
While ultrasound is also being investigated
by colleagues in North America and
Australia, this collaboration between QMU
and the University of Strathclyde is the first
in the world to treat such a wide range of
persistent speech sound disorders.
“Recorded data from the project will then
provide a unique resource for teaching and
research, letting us investigate the children’s
gradually improving speech in great detail
- thanks to QMU’s unique high-speed
ultrasound system.”
The UltraPhonix project is being funded
by the Scottish Government Chief Scientist
Office (CSO). CSO supports and promotes
high quality research aimed at improving the
quality and cost-effectiveness of services
offered by NHS Scotland.
For more information on the UltraPhonix
project, visit: www.qmu.ac.uk/casl/
ultraphonix/default.htm or contact Professor
Jim Scobbie Director of the Clinical
Audiology, Speech and Language Research
Centre (CASL) at QMU, E: JScobbie@qmu.
ac.uk, E: [email protected] or T: 0131
474 0000. ❒
“It is hoped the research will inform the
future development of ultrasound technology
and clinical treatment methods to help
people overcome speech sound disorders
across the World.”
CASE STUDY: Rosie Pink Smith (11), Linlithgow
Rosie Pink Smith (11), who attends St Joseph’s RC Primary,
and formerly Donaldson’s School in Linlithgow, is one of 20 local
youngsters benefiting from the UltraPhonix project at QMU.
Rosie was diagnosed with Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia in 2010
and was referred to speech and language experts at QMU by NHS
Lothian in July 2015.
Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia is a condition where children
have difficulty in making and co-ordinating the precise movements
needed to produce clear speech with their mouths. Children with
Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia find it hard to produce individual
speech sounds and to put sounds together in the right order in
words. As a result, their speech is often hard to understand.
Rosie received 16 intensive speech and language therapy sessions
(six assessment sessions and 10 hour long therapy sessions) at
QMU over six months, as part of the UltraPhonix project.
There was a marked improvement in Rosie’s ability to produce a
variety speech sounds during this period, including the letters ‘K’
and ‘G’. Rosie’s speech assessments show that her production
of the letters ‘K’ and ‘G’ has increased by over 50%. At her first
baseline assessment, Rosie scored 1% (1/109) and her final
maintenance session, she scored 55% (60/109).
Rosie’s mother, Anna Pink, said: “We’re really pleased with the
significant progress Rosie has made with her speech since receiving
help from QMU.
“The intensive series of speech and language therapy sessions
and assessments allowed us to see a rapid change in the quality
of Rosie’s speech in a relatively short period.
“We hope that Rosie’s positive experience with QMU will help
other children with speech and language difficulties benefit from
the expert support on offer at the University.” ❒
QMYOU / Health & Rehabilitation
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