A Promising (and Interesting) Solution for the Stutter
July 25, 2007 by Lauren
Having a stutter has to be frustrating, not to mention underestimated. Until recently, a stutter couldn't be cured. This is difficult for the stutterer, as they cannot sufficiently express themselves without breaking up. Some cases are more mild while others are quite severe, really meddling with life. A new device has a rather unpredicted method of potentially stopping the stutter, or close to it. I saw this a while back and it intrigues me just as much now as it did then.
SpeechEasy, the device I mentioned, is apparently already helping thousands to overcome their stammer. SpeechEasy boasts a rather impressive stat in which 80% of its users are fluent or almost fluent with the help of the device. Naturally, they're also improving self-confidence while potentially helping sufferers to land jobs or feel comfortable in social situations.
The method of the solution involves wearing a hearing aid-like device in the ear. However, instead of making things louder, SpeechEasy uses a technology called Altered Auditory Feedback (AAF). What this does is repeats the words a user speaks back into their own ear with a slight delay. This tricks the brain into thinking the user is speaking in unison with someone else, thus reducing or even eliminating the stutter.
I've seen the video/testing of this with a new user and it really is very impressive. Someone with a severe, repetitive stutter can speak completely normally and fluently. The process of this "choral effect" is actually pretty old, having been well documented for decades. The news is in scientists' ability to capture the effect in a small earpiece suited for everyday use.
To get this gadget, you must make a screening appointment in which you would actually wear SpeechEasy to immediately experience its effectiveness. You would then go outside and further test the device for thirty minutes, after which you can decide whether or not you'll purchase it. Unfortunately, this is currently only available in Europe. Check it out, nonetheless, here.
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