The Indiana Speech Training Aid (ISTRA) II: Training curriculum and selected case studies

Abstract

A new approach to computer-based speech training is described. The ISTRA system is being developed as a training aid, intended for use by speech-language pathologists and teachers of the deaf. The system consists of a microcomputer equipped with a low-cost, speaker-dependent speech recognizer, and a series of programs for use in various phases of speech training. On-line feedback is evaluative and reflects the quality of whole words, based on the level of agreement between stored templates and new utterances. A variety of software to conduct speech drills has been developed, which includes several modes of training recommended for use in a training curriculum. Clients are able to run their speech drills independently. Three case studies are presented to demonstrate the use of ISTRA in speech training with hearing-impaired and normal-hearing, misarticulating children. Improvement of the quality of words trained, as well as generalization to non-trained words, in some cases, was demonstrated.

Key Words:

• Computer-based speech training
• deaf speech
• speech therapy