Finding Our Voice With New Speech Technology: Part 2

By: Jennifer Tripoli M.S., CCC-SLP

In my previous blog post, I introduced the Voice Box, a motor speech lab that houses equipment related to voice, resonance, and articulation. The first post was primarily centered around the Smart Palate technology by Complete Speech. Now I am here to tell you more about the other stars of the Voice Box, the Nasometer and the Visipitch.

Nasometer by KayPENTAX

Above pictures include computer with headset (worn by client) that takes nasalance measurement.

So what is the Nasometer? 

• The Nasometer is an evaluation and treatment device that is able to objectively measure nasality (resonance) in a client’s speech.
• Prior to this piece of equipment, clinicians were using their own perception or ear to determine if a client had a nasality problem. This takes the guess work out!

  

                      Photo by Rich Howe

• Provides a nasalance score that objectively measures nasality.
• Helps clinicians determine if further evaluation is needed to assess the velopharyngeal port by ENT or craniofacial clinic.
• Allows clinicians to objectively measure progress in therapy for children with resonance disorders by improvements in nasalance scores.

Who would benefit from this technology?

• Children with suspected nasality problems or resonance issues
• Children with a:
  • Cleft palate
  • Deficiencies in the velopharyngeal port
  • Neuromotor/motor speech deficits
  • Hearing impairment
• How is it used in treatment?
  • The Nasometer has biofeedback games that can be used in treatment and allow the child to practice appropriate resonance in real time speech.
  • The child is able to make adjustments based on feedback they are receiving in fun, highly motivating computer game.

Visipitch by KayPENTAX

The Visipitch can be used for a variety of skills and has various programs targeting different aspects of speech.

What does it do?

• The visipitch is an all-encompassing instrumentation that gives real time displays for visual feedback of critical speech/voice parameters.
• Contains 8 modules all used for different/various speech skills.

How do we use this technology at Easter Seals DuPage and Fox Valley?

We mainly use the Multi-Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP) to evaluate voice disorders contained in Visipitch software and Voice Games.

• Gives clinician’s objective quantitative measures for voice analysis which can be compared to normal levels
• Clinicians can measure progress in therapy based on improvements in quantitative measures provided by MDVP.

Who would benefit from this piece of equipment?

• Children/adults with voice disorders
• Children with vocal nodules or other vocal fold pathology
• Children with hoarse, breathy , or harsh vocal quality
• Children with motor speech disorders including apraxia and dysarthria

How is it used in treatment?

• Visipitch contains a variety of highly motivating voice games to be used in treatment
• Voice games are very visual and rewarding for children demonstrating good speech and voice behaviors
• Voice games work on sustained phonation, frequency/pitch of voice, amplitude/loudness of voice, voice onset, etc.

The frog game (below) . Child is asked to sustain phonation or hold out voice to expand frog’s throat. If child holds out voice until frog’s throat expands, they are awarded with a visual reinforcement on the screen.

Dragon/Fire game (below). Child is asked to use low to loud vocal volume to pop all the balloons with the dragon’s fire. This game works on vocal loudness and ability to control vocal loudness.

Photo by Rich Howe.

Of course, these pieces of equipment are never used solely in treatment. All equipment is used in addition to traditional speech treatment!

If you have questions or are interested in having your child evaluated for use of the Voice Box, please contact our intake coordinator at 630.282.2022.

The Voice Box has been a wonderful addition to the Speech and Language Department at Easter Seals DuPage & Fox Valley! We are forever grateful to the generous donors who made this possible! Thank you again!

Finding Our Voice with New Speech Technology: Part 1

By: Jennifer Tripoli M.S., CCC-SLP

A few years ago, the Speech Language Department at Easter Seals DuPage & Fox Valley had a vision to create a speech lab that would house cutting edge equipment related to articulation, voice and resonance disorders. A few therapists made a wish list of equipment that speech pathologists in an outpatient pediatric clinic could only dream of having. We knew this equipment would benefit our clients and hoped our vision would become a reality. Fortunately for us, our idea was chosen as one of the paddle raise items at the 2013 Easter Seals DuPage and Fox Valley Benefit Gala.

Due to the donations of several individuals, we were able to transform a therapy room into a beautiful speech lab and purchase three very high tech pieces of equipment. This room was given the name “The Voice Box” and we were ready to put our new equipment to use! A huge thank you to each and every one of you who were so generous in donating to this lab and to everyone who has supported the idea from the beginning!

Since openings the doors of the Voice Box, we have had many questions about the technology and how it could help a child.  In my next few blog posts, I am hoping to help you better understand the Voice Box and all of its possibilities!

The first piece of high tech equipment inside the Voice Box is the “Smart Palate” by Complete Speech. This device is used primarily for children with articulation disorders or children who have difficulty making specific sounds. Sometimes traditional articulation approaches are not enough for children to learn to produce a specific sound.

The system is designed to:

• Use biofeedback to help a client see exactly what their tongue is doing inside their mouth
• “It takes the guessing out of speech therapy by showing students exactly where their tongue is supposed to touch their palate to produce different speech sounds,” says Complete Speech.

Who can the Smart Palate help?

• Children with Down Syndrome
• Children with Dysarthria or Apraxia
• Children with Articulation Disorders
• Children with repaired Cleft Palates
• Children with a hearing impairment

How does it work?

First, an acrylic mouth piece or palate is custom made for each client by Complete Speech (*fee involved for purchase of palate). The Client’s dentist or orthodontist makes impression of a client’s palate which is then sent to Complete Speech for palate construction.

Once completed, we receive the palate and connect to our computer software. It looks similar to a retainer with sensors.

The smart palate connected to the computer via USB port.

Below are pictures of the Smart Palate in action.

The palate with sensors that show tongue to palate contact on computer screen.

The client’s tongue resting on their palate (sensors light up blue).

The “blue” sensors represent accurate tongue placement for sound /r/.

Only “blue” sensors are lit which indicate accurate production of sound /r/.

The “orange” sensors show inaccurate tongue placement for sound /r/.  This indicates activation of sensors outside of accurate /r/ tongue placement.

Side by side display of the clinician’s palate and client’s palate.

What are the Smart Palate requirements?

• Client must have adequate attention to computer screen
• Client must have cognitive ability to understand what they see on the computer screen is what they feel inside their mouth
• Client must be able to tolerate acrylic retainer in mouth
• Be at minimum 4 years or older

Click here to watch videos on the Complete Speech website.

To learn more about the Smart Palate please visit the Complete Speech Website here. 

Important note: Here at Easter Seals DuPage & Fox Valley we are using the Smart Palate in therapy to augment our current, traditional articulation approaches. We are not solely using the Smart Palate to address speech sound disorders. The Smart Palate is not appropriate for every child who has a speech sound disorder. An evaluating Speech Pathologist who has experience in working with children with the Smart Palate will determine appropriateness for each individual client.

If interested in the Smart Palate, please contact our Villa Park intake coordinator at 630.282.2022 for questions or to schedule an appointment. For more information about Easter Seals DuPage & Fox Valley please visit EasterSealsDFVR.org.