What side effects are associated with this type of intervention?

Altered Auditory Vocal Feedback (AAVF) is a technique used to improve speech fluency in people who stutter by modifying their auditory perception. Common side effects of auditory feedback alterations can include discomfort or disorientation due to the unnatural auditory experience. Other treatments for stuttering, such as speech therapy and pharmacological interventions, may have side effects like anxiety, fatigue, or medication-related adverse effects. It is important to discuss potential side effects with a healthcare provider to tailor the treatment to individual needs.

What prior FDA approvals exist?

As of now, there are no specific FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of stuttering. However, various approaches have been explored, including the use of altered auditory feedback devices, which modify auditory perception to improve speech fluency. These devices, such as delayed auditory feedback (DAF) and frequency-altered feedback (FAF), have shown promise in clinical settings. Additionally, some pharmacological treatments, like the use of antipsychotic medications and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), have been studied for their potential benefits in managing stuttering, though they are not specifically approved for this use.

What other types of research exist?

Promising novel alternatives to Altered Auditory Vocal Feedback for stuttering patients include Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS). Both techniques have shown potential in improving language and speech fluency in various neurological conditions.

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Altered Auditory Feedback for Stuttering

N/A

Recruiting

Led By Satrajit Ghosh, PhD

Research Sponsored by Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Be older than 18 years old

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up calculated at the end of the study for time points: baseline, 1-week, 2-weeks, 3-weeks, and 4-weeks

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial tests if the Mumble Melody app can help people who stutter speak more fluently. The app changes how their voice sounds in real-time. Participants will use the app regularly and record their speech to see if it helps.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for U.S. residents who stutter, have a separate device with a mic and an Apple product with the required OS or chip. Participants must speak English and pass an initial screening showing more than 2.5% stuttering-like dysfluencies per syllable.

What is being tested?

The study tests if altered auditory feedback can help people who stutter speak more fluently. It looks at how this method works over a month outside of the lab environment.

What are the potential side effects?

Since this intervention involves auditory feedback, there may be no significant physical side effects, but participants might experience frustration or fatigue from prolonged use.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ calculated at the end of the study for time points 1-week, 2-weeks, 3-weeks, and 4-weeks

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~calculated at the end of the study for time points 1-week, 2-weeks, 3-weeks, and 4-weeks

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and calculated at the end of the study for time points 1-week, 2-weeks, 3-weeks, and 4-weeks for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Significant change in fluency in one of four modes (Unaltered, Whisper, Reverb, Harmonize) between the baseline testing session and the end of week 4.

Secondary study objectives

Duration of Mode Usage

Frequency of Mode Usage

Significant change in fluency for each mode in comparison to the baseline (No Auditory Feedback) condition, for each testing session

+6 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

1Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Altered Auditory FeedbackExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will use the Mumble Melody application over the course of 1 month

Treatment

First Studied

Drug Approval Stage

How many patients have taken this drug

Altered Auditory Feedback

2014

N/A

~50

Do I qualify?Apply below to find out

Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.

Mechanism Of Action

Side Effect Profile

Prior Approvals

Other Research

Common treatments for stuttering include speech therapy techniques such as Altered Auditory Vocal Feedback (AAF), which modifies the auditory perception of the speaker's voice to improve speech fluency. AAF devices delay or alter the pitch of the speaker's voice, which can help reduce stuttering by disrupting the auditory feedback loop that contributes to speech disfluencies. This matters for stuttering patients because it provides a non-invasive method to enhance speech fluency, potentially improving communication abilities and quality of life. Understanding these mechanisms helps patients and clinicians tailor interventions more effectively to individual needs.