This article outlines some of the issues to consider with altered auditory feedback devices, and some of the products on the market. There is more information and links on our Electronic fluency devices page.

Electronic devices/software explained

Some people who stammer find they are able to speak fluently when reading or speaking in unison with someone else. These devices imitate this effect in two ways with the help of a headset, usually worn in one ear. The first is to alter the pitch of your voice that you hear through the headset. The second is to relay your voice back to you with a fraction of a second delay. The combined effect is make it sound like someone is talking along with you while speaking slightly more slowly.

Some devices can produce a hiss or buzz, which can be turned on to overcome a silent block.

Delay and pitch shift are often combined on devices that can adjust these separately. When trying a device, the effect can sometimes be noticed immediately, sometimes it takes a while to concentrate on the sound in your ear and get used to letting it guide your speech.

More information: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Speech-Language_Pathology/Stuttering/Anti-Stuttering_Devices

Will a device help me? Five issues to consider

Stammering is a highly individual disorder and the settings and effectiveness of these devices may vary considerably from person to person. Ultimately, trying a device in a variety of situations is the only sure way to see if it will help you. Any device will be of benefit only if you concentrate on the sound in your ear and let yourself be guided by it. No device should be thought of as a cure, but as another tool to help with fluency.

1. Will it help with anxiety?
Test it in feared situations to see if you can benefit from it when you need it most. Does anxiety make it impossible to let your speech be guided by the sound in your ear?

2. Will you be comfortable to be seen with it?
With the exception of SpeechEasy, the devices have a pocket sized control box with a headset. Bluetooth wireless options are starting to be introduced on some models.

3. Will it be helpful in noisy situations?
Because you need to hear the sound in your ear to let your speech be guided by it, the background noise might make it too hard to hear your voice.

4. Will it help with phone calls?
Hearing their own voice delayed in one ear and listening to someone else on the phone could be too much to listen to. Make a difficult call to test this.

5. Will it help if you block?
No speech means no sound and thus no benefit. If you produce silent blocks, some sound will be necessary for the device to have an effect. This is where a masking function can be useful.

VoiceAmp

Update: since this article was written, the device has developed further. Eg there is now (October 2007) a wireless option that can be used with a variety of earpieces, including one that fits almost out of sight in the ear canal. See www.voiceamp.co.uk for details. Also BSA has a (non-wireless) device to lend out to members.

Voiceamp

This new device was released in 2006 and is being distributed in the UK. It looks like an iPod and is used with a microphone and earpiece like a hands-free set for a mobile phone.

The three preset delay and pitch settings can be adjusted using a computer with VoiceAmp's software. VoiceAmp has a noise reduction function to reduce background noise when you are not speaking, as well as a masking function, although at present this is largely untested.

VoiceAmp recommend purchasing though a speech and language therapist because of the value of support from therapy and therapist being able to fine-tune the device. It is also available direct from the manufacturers on a trial basis.

Price: £1,250, incl. VAT (less any BSA members discount - see below)
More information: www.voiceamp.co.uk, UK tel: 0845 680 0375
VoiceAmp have extended their 10% discount offer to BSA members until the end of March 2007.

Defstut

Defstut

Defstut mic

This is the cheapest device available and just uses delayed audio feedback, and can also provide the buzz/hiss of masked feedback to help get through a silent block The control unit clips on the belt or fits in a pocket, and has two headset and microphone options. A separate microphone (12mm by 5mm) can be clipped to an item of clothing, or a combined headset/microphone cable can be used, the same as a hands-free kit for a mobile phone.

Enquiries and orders can be sent from the Defstut website, based in Belgium.
The suppliers provide a 14 day trial period after purchase. If the device is not satisfactory, it can be returned for a £150 refund.

Price: £180
More information: www.defstut.com

SpeechEasy

SpeechEasy

This is the smallest device because its smallest model fits almost out of sight in the ear canal. The benefit is the fact that it is virtually invisible, so it can be used with ease in a wide variety of situations. There is also a larger model that fits behind the ear like the larger hearing aids. It combines delayed and frequency altered feedback and the settings need to be adjusted by a clinician to give the best results. It also has a noise reduction function.

Part of the cost includes having a mould made for the casing to fit exactly in your ear canal. This requires a consultation with a clinician trained to adjust the device and an audiologist to fit it exactly to your ear.

There are now (February 2007) five distributors in the UK. Contact Medsy, the European distributor (see below) to make an appointment with a UK clinician.

Price: £3,050
More information: www.medsy.eu, www.speecheasy.com

CasaFuturatech

Casafutura SmallTalk

Casafutura speechaid

Two main models are available:

Pocket Speech Lab

Pocket Speech Lab combines delayed and frequency altered feedback (DAF/FAF) with background noise reduction and feedback on the tension in your focal folds. It also has a manually operated masking function to help to pull out of silent blocks.

The vocal fold tension feedback analyses your voice's pitch and volume and shows a red light on the control unit to indicate tense vocal folds, which precede stammering.

Background noise reduction includes voice activation that automatically switches sound on when the user speaks, and switches sound off when the user stops speaking. The device is completely silent when the user isn't speaking. The Pocket Speech Lab can plug into a telephone. You hear your voice and the caller's voice in both ears while the caller hears your normal voice.

Price: US$3,495 (about £1800)

SmallTalk

As the name suggests, this has a smaller control unit. It has the same features as the larger unit, without the voice tension feedback or the masking function. For noisy environments is has a manual rather than voice activated switch to activate the sound.

Both devices bought by consumers directly from Casa Futura Technologies may be returned within 30 days of delivery for a 90% refund.

Price: US$2495 (about £1300)

Other Casafutura models

There are also two simpler versions; one is just for telephone use and the other is sold as a desktop unit. Prices are $1495 (about £800) and $995 (about £550) respectively.

More information: www.casafuturatech.com

General note

Prices and product details are largely as stated by the supplier as at early 2007 - please confirm with supplier. You may want to check whether there is any VAT and possibly customs duties to pay in addition, especially on Casafuturatech.

More information: our Electronic fluency devices page

From the Spring 2007 issue of 'Speaking Out', pages 12-13