Social robots that interact with humans might be a viable new complement to current therapy options for individuals who stammer, according to recent research on how the high-tech aids might be utilised in clinics. Social robots, unlike applications and AI programmes within computers, have a physical presence, making them ideally suited for therapies in the setting of a stuttering clinic, according to research co-author Torrey Loucks.
According to Loucks, stuttering impacts the quality of life of persons suffering from speech problems, with implications reaching beyond only speech issues.”Stuttering can also have a detrimental impact on one’s self-esteem and self-perception, which increases nervousness when speaking.”
A speech-language pathologist’s interventions significantly improve communication fluency and assurance. According to Loucks, a former associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Alberta and a former research director at the Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research (ISTAR), the benefits of improving one’s self-image and view of oneself as a competent communicator have truly changed many people’s lives.
Compared to other often utilised technology solutions, social robots have a number of benefits. They are excellent at repetitive chores and may be programmed to meet the individual demands of each patient. And study demonstrates that consumers like social robots over technology like tablets and smartphones since they are more engaged due to their actual presence.
The social robot has a great chance to make therapy sessions more interesting and enjoyable, especially for younger patients. Robots won’t replace therapists, according to Loucks, but they will support the requirement for practise time and initial transfer tasks that are frequently scarce in busy SLP clinics due to their propensity for repetitive activities and programmable nature.
The 300,000 Canadians who stammer will benefit from something that enables the few clinicians who specialise in stuttering to offer more practice and assistance to more clients. Although there hasn’t been much study on social robots and communication difficulties up to this point, Loucks says there have already been some encouraging findings. For instance, they have already been shown to be effective in retaining the attention of autistic kids and fostering social skills like turn-taking.
This study is the first to put forth scenarios in which social robots are portrayed as instruments to help speech-language pathologists adjust and improve stuttering therapies. Researchers who study stuttering, speech-language pathologists, and roboticists contributed to the development of organised scenarios. According to Loucks, these scenarios are a crucial first step in integrating social robots into treatment because they provide programmers with the chance to improve the services the social robots can offer while also enabling academics to assess if the robots are having a positive impact.
“There is undoubtedly increased interest and expanding promise for social robots to enhance health care, particularly specifically rehabilitation.”
Loucks and his associates also questioned Canadian doctors with experience in stuttering therapies to assess whether they had any reservations about putting a social robot directly into the clinic.
“The physicians were extremely open to the concept that a robot might enhance treatment activities by becoming an engaging partner.”
The sorts of social robots employed in these situations aren’t a thing of the future—they’re now accessible. And if they’re a touch on the pricier side currently, advancements in technology mean those costs are progressively coming down, adds Loucks.
“A stuttering clinic has promised to be a revolutionary test case for social robots in speech & language therapies, both for supporting clinician-driven activities and also for allowing the client to practise some of their abilities without the moment-by-moment participation of the therapist.”
