SpeechEasy

About: The SpeechEasy device provides delayed auditory feedback (DAF) and frequency-shifting (not FAF pitch-shifting). The hearing aid microphone is designed to pick up background noise louder than your voice. The frequency range is 200-8000 Hz, with higher frequencies around 10 dB louder than lower frequencies. The device blocks your hearing in one ear. The device is monaural (one ear), not binaural (both ears). The device was introduced in 2001.

Evidence: SpeechEasy devices are effective for reading aloud and monologues in quiet speech clinics (Pollard, 2009; Stuart 2004, 2006; O’Donnell, 2008) but ineffective in stressful conversations (Pollard, 2009). Over time, the devices don’t train carryover fluency (Stuart, 2004, 2006). Some studies found that SpeechEasy devices lose effectiveness over time (Molt, 2006; Pollard, 2009) while other studies found no adaptation (Stuart, 2004, 2006). SpeechEasy devices have problems with background noise (Pollard, 2009). The frequency-shifting AAF used in SpeechEasy devices is not the same as pitch-shifting FAF and has never been proven effective. SpeechEasy devices are monaural, which is 25% less effective than binaural devices (Stuart, 1997). The specified maximum volume of 105 db (Stuart, 2003) has the potential of causing hearing loss in about five minutes ; however, an acoustical analysis found that 90 dB multitalker babble noise produced only 96 dB in the ear (Portnuff, 2012), which is safe for about thirty minutes.

References:

Molt, L. (2006). SpeechEasy AAF device long-term clinical trial: Usage patterns and satisfaction ratings. Poster presented at the annual convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Miami, FL. Quote is from Pollard, R., Ellis, J., Finan, D., & Ramig, P. (2009). Effects of the SpeechEasy on objective and perceived aspects of stuttering: a 6-month, phase I clinical trial in naturalistic environments. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 52, 516-533.

O’Donnell, J., Armson, J., & Kiefte, M. (2008). The effectiveness of SpeechEasy during situations of daily living. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 33, 99-119.

Pollard, R., Ellis, J., Finan, D., & Ramig, P. (2009). Effects of the SpeechEasy on objective and perceived aspects of stuttering: a 6-month, phase I clinical trial in naturalistic environments. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 52, 516-533.

Portnuff, C. 2012. Report of Acoustical Analysis. Private correspondance.

Stuart, A., Kalinowski, J., & Rastatter, M. (1997). Effect of monaural and binaural altered auditory feedback on stuttering frequency. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 111, 2237-2241.

Stuart, A., Xia, S., Jiang, Y., Jiang, T., Kalinowski, J., & Rastatter, M. (2003) Self-contained in-the-ear device to deliver altered auditory feedback: applications for stuttering. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 31, 233-237.

Stuart, A., Kalinowski, J., Rastatter, M., Saltuklaroglu, T., & Dayalu, V. (2004). Investigations of the impact of altered auditory feedback in-the-ear devices on the speech of people who stutter: initial fitting and 4-month follow-up. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 39:1, 93–113. Stuart, A., Kalinowski, J., Saltuklaroglu, T., & Guntupalli, V. (2006). Investigations of the impact of altered auditory feedback in-the-ear devices on the speech of people who stutter: One-year follow-up, Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-9.