Speaking Task for Speech

Overseen By Carrie Niziolek, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Disqualifiers: Neurological disorders, Hearing disorders, Cognitive impairments, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 10

117 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to understand how the brain processes and controls speech in healthy individuals. Researchers seek to learn how people perceive their own speech errors and how they learn new speech sounds. English-speaking adults with normal hearing and speech, and no history of neurological conditions, will participate in a speaking task. Participants will contribute to important research on speech mechanisms over a period ranging from one day to four weeks. As an unphased study, this trial offers participants the chance to contribute to foundational research that could enhance understanding of speech processes.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, since the study focuses on speech and brain processing in healthy individuals, it might not require changes to your medication routine.

What prior data suggests that this speaking task is safe for healthy adult speakers?

Research shows that tasks like the Exp 3 Speaking Task are generally well-tolerated. Studies have examined how feeling safe affects individuals during speech tasks, revealing that beliefs and expectations can influence their experience. This suggests that feeling safe can alter one's feelings during the task.

The Speaking Task for Speech study, conducted by the University of Wisconsin, Madison, does not test a new drug or treatment. Instead, it aims to understand how the brain processes speech. No reports have linked negative effects directly to this type of task.

As an observational study, not a treatment trial, it primarily involves performing speech tasks. These tasks are generally safe for healthy adults. Participants are divided into age groups to determine if age affects speech processing. The study does not mention any significant risks or side effects from participating in the speaking tasks. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores a new speaking task technique designed to improve speech among healthy adults across different age groups. Unlike traditional speech therapy methods that often focus on individuals with speech disorders, this approach aims to optimize speech performance in people without any speech impairments. By understanding how different age groups perform in structured speaking tasks, the trial could provide insights into maintaining or enhancing speech clarity and efficiency throughout a person's life. This could lead to novel strategies for supporting effective communication as we age.

What evidence suggests that the Exp 3 Speaking Task is effective for understanding speech processing?

Studies have shown that specific speaking activities can enhance language learning. Research on speech exercises, such as the Exp 3 Speaking Task in this trial, indicates that structured activities can improve speech accuracy and fluency. These tasks enable individuals to practice and refine their speaking skills, shedding light on how the brain manages speech. While direct data on the Exp 3 Speaking Task is not yet available, similar methods have successfully helped people learn and correct their speech. This suggests that participating in speaking tasks could aid in understanding and improving speech processing. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Carrie Niziolek, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy individuals interested in how the brain controls speech. Specific eligibility details are not provided, but typically participants should have no significant health issues affecting their speech.

Inclusion Criteria

I have never had a stroke or neurological conditions.

I have normal hearing and speech.

Exclusion Criteria

English is not my first language.

I do not have any neurological disorders other than the one being studied.

I have had hearing problems in the past.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Experiment 1

Generalization of Vowel Space Expansion to Untrained Words and Vowels in a single session

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Experiment 2

Retention of Vowel Space Expansion After Training in Multiple Sessions over four weeks

4 weeks

8 visits (in-person)

Experiment 3

Vowel Space Expansion Training With Connected Speech

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Exp 3 Speaking Task

Trial Overview

The study is testing a 'Speaking Task' to understand brain processes and control of speech. Participants will be involved in experiments ranging from a single day to four weeks to identify how people correct speech errors and learn new sounds.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Healthy Adult Speakers Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

healthy adult participants across the lifespan in three groups:18-35, 36-55, and 56+

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,249

Recruited

3,255,000+

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Collaborator

Trials

377

Recruited

190,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The study evaluated the speaking proficiencies of 33 alaryngeal speakers across three groups: esophageal, electrolarynx, and tracheoesophageal puncture, revealing significant differences in voice quality, intelligibility, and overall effectiveness among the groups.

Judges' expertise influenced their ratings of speaking proficiency, indicating that familiarity with laryngectomee communication methods affects the assessment of their speaking abilities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Differences in speaking proficiencies in three laryngectomee groups. Williams, SE., Watson, JB.[2019]

Lip-reading combined with synchronized acoustic pulses (LR&Lx condition) significantly improved performance in understanding sentences compared to lip-reading alone (LR:alone condition) among 42 adult subjects with normal hearing.

The study established a logistic regression model to account for practice effects and list difficulty, allowing for more accurate assessment of lip-reading performance across different conditions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lip-reading the BKB sentence lists: corrections for list and practice effects. Foster, JR., Summerfield, AQ., Marshall, DH., et al.[2019]

A study involving eight hearing-impaired adults showed that communication therapy can effectively change how individuals use repair strategies when they misinterpret spoken sentences, leading to a more diverse approach in communication.

After therapy, participants reduced their reliance on the 'repeat' strategy and began using other strategies, such as asking for simplification or key words, indicating improved communication skills.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Repair strategy usage by hearing-impaired adults and changes following communication therapy. Tye-Murray, N.[2019]

In a study involving 4 speakers with chronic apraxia of speech and aphasia, all participants showed improved accuracy in speech production across different treatment intensities and schedules using sound production treatment (SPT).

No significant differences in treatment outcomes were found between the various SPT applications, suggesting that different intensities and practice schedules can be equally effective for improving speech accuracy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treatment for acquired apraxia of speech: examination of treatment intensity and practice schedule. Wambaugh, JL., Nessler, C., Cameron, R., et al.[2016]

A new speech comprehension test was developed using short everyday passages and on-the-go questions, aiming to better reflect real-world communication compared to traditional sentence recall tests.

The new test showed similar psychometric properties to the sentence test, but it revealed age and cognitive effects that the sentence test did not, suggesting it may provide more nuanced insights into speech perception, especially for hearing-impaired listeners.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development and preliminary evaluation of a new test of ongoing speech comprehension. Best, V., Keidser, G., Buchholz, JM., et al.[2019]

A new speech intelligibility test was developed by adapting a list of sentences based on feedback from 60 experts in linguistics and speech science, ensuring high agreement on criteria for familiarity, meaning, and predictability.

The adaptation process resulted in 99 sentences being modified to improve predictability and the use of proper names, creating a standardized assessment tool for speech perception in Brazilian Portuguese for both normal hearing adults and those with hearing loss.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Updating sentences lists for assessment speech perception. Pinheiro, MMC., Vieira, MG., Vieira, LM., et al.[2023]

After 18 months of group rehabilitation, the program successfully enhanced communication skills by focusing on linguistic, social, and cognitive aspects.

Phonetic games and targeted exercises were effective methods for improving speech production, reading, and writing skills in participants.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

'Small group' rehabilitation in adolescent cochlear implant users: aims, method and results. D'Agosta, L., Bosco, E., Cordier, A.[2019]

In a study involving 38 students performing a 45-minute vocal loading task, it was found that faster speaking rates led to increased vocal fatigue and changes in acoustic voice parameters, such as higher sound pressure levels and fundamental frequency.

The results indicated that vocal fatigue worsened over time, particularly during fast speaking tasks, suggesting that speaking rate significantly influences vocal strain and fatigue.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effects of Reading Speed on Acoustic Voice Parameters and Self-reported Vocal Fatigue in Students. Nudelman, C., Webster, J., Bottalico, P.[2021]

Sound Production Treatment (SPT) was effective in improving the accuracy of speech sounds in 6 participants with acquired apraxia of speech (AOS) and aphasia, regardless of whether the treatment was presented in a blocked or random order.

The random presentation of treatment words (SPT-random) showed potential advantages in maintaining improvements for some participants, suggesting that different practice methods may influence treatment outcomes in AOS.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sound production treatment: effects of blocked and random practice. Wambaugh, JL., Nessler, C., Wright, S., et al.[2016]

The study involved four speakers with chronic apraxia of speech and aphasia, who underwent Sound Production Treatment (SPT) using both blocked and random practice schedules, showing improvements in word production accuracy for both methods.

While both practice schedules were effective, one participant showed better long-term retention with the random practice schedule, and generalization of treatment effects to untreated words was modest and varied among participants.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sound production treatment for acquired apraxia of speech: Effects of blocked and random practice on multisyllabic word production. Wambaugh, J., Nessler, C., Wright, S., et al.[2017]

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Speaking Task for Speech

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