Want to know How Voice Tech Improves Speech Therapy? Read our blog on How Voice Technology Is Revolutionizing Therapy for People with Speech Disabilities and find out through 13 game-changing ways.

At Globextra- we are all about Mental Health these days and to spread awareness, we bring you another blog in the mental health series. 

MUST READ I 17 TECH INNOVATIONS IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE

How How Voice Tech Improves Speech Therapy For People With Speech Disabilities- 13 Impactful Ways To Know

Speech- a way of communication that is directly linked to mental health. Yes, you read it right and if you want to know the relationship they share, read our blog on “how speech is linked with mental health and find out through(interlinking to be done). In this blog, we will see how voice technology is driving the change in the mental health space for people with speech disabilities through 13 worthwhile aspects. 

1. What Is Voice Technology- The Term Explained

Voice technology is being used to improve therapy, make it more approachable, and support individuals with conditions like anxiety, depression, etc. This when teamed with tools is helping health doctors treat their patients on a more personalized level and at a quick rate as compared to traditional methods. 

2. How The Concept Of How Voice Tech Improves Speech Therapy Was Developed & Which Should Be Known

The history can be traced to the year 1952 when Bell Laboratories designed the “Audrey” system which could recognize a single voice speaking digits when spoken aloud. It is interesting to know that before this discovery the first speech recognition systems were focused on numbers and not words. Leaping ten years ahead, IBM introduced the “Shoebox” which understood and responded to 16 words in English.

3. The Role That Voice Technology Plays When It Comes To Speech Therapy

Traditional speech therapy often involves face-to-face interactions with your therapists, exercises, and manual tracking of progress. However, with the introduction of voice technology the need for any physical interactions is eliminated. This has made therapy more accessible and personalized. 

4. Advantages Of How Voice Tech Improves Speech Therapy That Cannot Be Missed Out

Some undeniable advantages of voice therapy that deserve a mention are mentioned below.

• Increased Accessibility: Therapy is now available anytime, anywhere, thereby reducing dependency on in-person sessions or a physical visit.
• Cost-Effective: Lowers the cost of continuous therapy, making it more affordable.
• Personalized Learning: AI adapts to an individual’s unique speech patterns, improving effectiveness and making therapy more personalized.
• Empowerment and Independence: People with speech disabilities can communicate and control smart devices effortlessly. This helps them boost their self-confidence as the need for physical visits is eliminated. 
• Enhanced Personal Expression: Voice cloning allows individuals to communicate in a voice that feels familiar and personal. We will learn about voice cloning later in the blog. 

5. The Disadvantages Of How Voice Tech Improves Speech Therapy That Needs To Be Retrospected 

Let us see some downsides of the technology.

• High Costs: Advanced AI-based solutions can be expensive, making them less accessible to users who fall under the low-income range.
• Dependence on Technology: Too much dependency on voice technology may reduce motivation for traditional therapy methods.
• Privacy Concerns: Voice data storage and AI learning models raise security and privacy issues as data can be easily accessed. 
• Accuracy Challenges: In the case of heavily distorted speech issues, the technology often falls short when it comes to recognizing the intent of the patient and generates wrong data. 

6. What Is Voice Cloning & How Is This Used To Improve Speech Therapy Is An Important Aspect Of How Voice Tech Improves Speech Therapy

Voice cloning technology allows individuals with speech impairments to generate synthetic or artificial versions of their own voice. Companies are developing tools that help patients to retain their voice identity, even if they lose their ability to speak naturally. This is how voice cloning is proving to be a boon in the mental health sector. 

7. Considering The Role Played By AI And Voice Assistants To Amp How Voice Tech Improves Speech Therapy

AI-powered voice assistants such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri help users practice speech exercises, track progress, and provide real-time feedback. AI-driven speech therapy apps also offer interactive voice training sessions, improving speech fluency over time.

8. Getting To Know Some Common Tools Used To Improve Speech Therapy When It Comes To Mental Health

Speech Buddies, Voiceitt, Proloquo2Go, Speak for Yourself, etc are some remarkable tools that are helping mental health doctors help their patients better to improve their speech. 

9. Want To Know The Technology Behind The Success Of Voice Technology In Improving Speech Therapy?

Let us understand the technology used in this section. 

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs): This is used for speech-to-text and speech translators. 

Natural Language Processing (NLP): This technology helps AI understand and process spoken language to generate the desired results.

Want to know what AI is? Read our blog on Artificial Intelligence and get to know 22 crunchy bits. 

Machine Learning (ML) Algorithms: Helps to improve accuracy by adapting to unique speech patterns.

Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs): This is often used in real-time speech enhancement.

10. Want To Know The Area Of AI That Is Commonly Used As A Voice Recognition Tool?

Deep learning is the area of Al that is often used for speech recognition. This is done by training artificial neural networks to analyze audio data and convert it into text thereby helping mental health practioners understand their patients better and design an effective therapy plan. 

11. How Voice Technology Is Used To Improve Speech Therapy?

This is made possible by using various software and tools. We will get to know some tools in this section.

• Speech recognition
• Speech synthesis
• Alexa
• Siri
• Google Assistant
• Dictation
• Speechmatics
• Acoustic modeling
• Speaker diarization
• Voice-enabled assessment
• Voice biometrics
• Voice Analyzer

These are some tools and software used at large.

12. Want To Some Best Players Used To Improve Speech Therapy?

Let us see some names that mental health doctors use to improve speech in this section.

• Google Assistant
• Alexa
• Chewy Tubes
• Speech Buddies
• Talktools Tongue Tip Elevation
• Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices
• Gamification of Speech Exercises
• Personalized Learning
• Augmented Reality(AR)
• Virtual Reality(VR)

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13. The Future Of Voice Therapy When It Comes To Improving Speech Therapy

The future holds even more promising advancements, such as brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) that can translate thoughts into speech, real-time voice cloning, and deep learning models that further refine speech recognition for individuals with unique speech patterns. As technology continues to evolve, it will open new doors for inclusivity and accessibility in communication. Voice cloning, ability to provide proactive responses, Integration with other technologies like AR and VR, IoT, etc amongst some future trends that needs to be watched out. 

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This concludes our blog on How Voice Tech Improves Speech Therapy and we hope you find value. You can always reach us through our website. 

Your Mental Health Is In Your Hands. We are here with you at each step!!!