SOLID-STATE DELAYED AUDITORY-FEEDBACK SYSTEM FOR SPEECH-THERAPY

Delayed auditory feedback (DAF) is a therapeutic method which has been widely and successfully used to improve the quality of speech of stutterers. The speaker is made to hear the sounds of his voice a fraction of a second later than normal. Although it is not really understood why this should so dramatically improve fluency, there is little doubt that the delay introduced by DAF modifies the disturbed speech/auditory feedback loop, improving vocalisation. A DAF system has been constructed using solid state integrated circuit components. The construction of the instrument is described and the advantages of such an electronic device over conventional electro-mechanical systems are discussed.