One of the greatest benefits of technology today is how it can aid speech and language therapists with at-home therapeutic sessions. Learning or recovering speech can be a time consuming process and with the latest technology, patients can benefit from the exact types of treatments as they’d receive when working with their therapist. Let’s highlight a few of how technology has brought major improvements to speech and language therapy.

Eliminating Racial Bias in Text to Speech Apps

One of the greatest obstacles to overcome when using text to speech apps for use when learning proper enunciation is that there seemed to always be a racial bias. New forms of this technology can provide various local accents and variations in pronunciation based on racial or ethnic heritage. For example, there has always been voice technology bias in school programs that teach kids word recognition with oral recitation of the words flashing on the screen in front of them.

The latest platforms used in education have made a huge difference. Not only do these programs ‘read’ words aloud as they appear on the screen, but there are fewer misinterpretations in voice recognition software; this helps eliminate racial bias in voice tech. This was especially problematic when listening for voice commands given by people of color, and was often even more problematic when ‘listening’ to children of color and other ethnicities. With a focus on inclusion, this is a huge step in the right direction. 

Robots to Help With Social Skills

Another very important type of new technology used in therapeutic sessions for children suffering from autism is in the use of robots. Autistic children who naturally have problems communicating can interact with these robots who will, in turn, respond to many of the commands children give.

For example, a robot is tickled and it laughs. If the child asks the robot whether it is hungry, the robot will respond “Yes, I am,” or “No thank you. I’ve already eaten.” These are just examples of how robots are used to help sufferers of autism learn to effectively communicate without feeling the shame they experience when stuttering or mispronouncing words. After hours of practice communicating with their lifelike robots, children learn speech patterns they can use in everyday life when talking to peers, teachers, and other adults in their lives.

Rebuilding Speech After Strokes

Then there are patients who have suffered a stroke. It is common among stroke patients where the facial muscles and nerves suffer loss of function. They, too, can practice gaining back speech with programs especially developed to help them regain control of the muscles so necessary to speech. This type of therapy is like teaching the body to develop a new path and is highly successful as an aide to their speech therapy sessions.

Sometimes technology helps the patient or student to be less inhibited when learning new language skills. Whether it’s pronunciation or the ability to speak without stuttering, technology offers a way to practice without suffering embarrassment when they can’t communicate the first time. What could be less threatening than a cute little robot? From eliminating racial bias in voice recognition to learning new channels of communication, technology has the solutions which have long been sought.