Speech Production Tasks for Understanding Speech Disorders
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?
Speech and communication disorders often result in aberrant control of the timing of speech production, such as making improper stops at places where they should not be. During normal speech, the ability to stop when necessary is important for maintaining turn-taking in a smooth conversation. Existing studies have largely investigated neural circuits that support the preparation and generation of speech sounds. It is believed that activity in the prefrontal and premotor cortical areas facilitates high-level speech control and activity in the ventral part of the sensorimotor cortex controls the articulator (e.g. lip, jaw, tongue) movements. However, little is known about the neural mechanism controlling a sudden and voluntary stop of speech. Traditional view attributes this to a disengagement of motor signals while recent evidence suggested there may be an inhibitory control mechanism. This gap in knowledge limits our understanding of disorders like stuttering and aphasia, where deficits in speech timing control are among the common symptoms. The overall goal of this study is to determine how the brain controls the stopping of ongoing speech production to deepen our understanding of speech and communication in normal and impaired conditions.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Speech Production Tasks for understanding speech disorders?
Research shows that even with high levels of error during practice, children with severe speech sound disorders improved their speech production and maintained learning three months after treatment. This suggests that perfect practice isn't necessary for effective speech learning, which supports the potential effectiveness of Speech Production Tasks.12345
How does this treatment for speech disorders differ from other treatments?
This treatment focuses on using specific speech production tasks to understand and address speech disorders, which is unique because it emphasizes analyzing speech patterns and coarticulation (how speech sounds influence each other) in different speaking conditions like loud or slow speech. Unlike other treatments that might focus on general speech therapy techniques, this approach uses detailed acoustic analysis to tailor interventions based on individual speech characteristics.678910
Research Team
Lingyun Zhao, PhD
Principal Investigator
University of California, San Francisco
Edward F Chang, MD
Principal Investigator
University of California, San Francisco
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for individuals with medication-resistant epilepsy at UCSF who are undergoing surgical electrode implantation to locate their seizure focus. They must be willing and able to cooperate with study tasks involving speech production.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants undergo high-density ECoG recording and perform speech production tasks with visual cues during inpatient hospitalization
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Speech Production Tasks
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of California, San Francisco
Lead Sponsor
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Collaborator