Improving speech by visualizing it

Bellen Speech Visualizer provides a student with a target for a word or sound and visualizes what the correct word or sound would look like. The software then allows the student to progressively train him/herself to reach the target pronunciation via a visual feedback loop and an auditory feedback loop.

Problems Targeted

Speech training of deaf students is usually of limited duration due to the lack of contact time between individual students and speech therapists. The Bellen Speech Visualizer project was initiated in response to a request from the National Institute for the Deaf, and involved some hearing specialists as well as deaf persons working at the Institute. As an assistive device, the Speech Visualizer allows students to practice between visits with the speech therapist, and it also allows students with no access to therapists to receive some form of speech training.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

The project addresses the need of persons with hearing loss to be able to communicate verbally with hearing persons. This is especially helpful to children who are still learning to communicate, as the software can assist with phonetic learning – on a visual basis – thus helping to improve literacy. This software provides the student with a target of a word/sound and shows him/her what the correct word/sound would look like. It then allows the student to progressively train him/herself to reach the target pronunciation via a visual feedback loop and an auditory feedback loop. The Speech Visualizer was launched during a speech 'indaba' (workshop) and is marketed through strategic partnerships with companies such as Intel Education and institutions such as Light for the World.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

The Bellen Speech Visualizer can be utilized by many more students throughout the world. It is currently distributed only in South Africa, and is available only in English (combined with SASL) in both Android and MS Windows platforms. With only slight alterations, it can easily be scaled to be distributed throughout southern Africa and many other English-speaking countries worldwide. Given the ever-decreasing cost of computing technology, it is easy to envisage how the software could be rolled-out on a much wider scale.

Pictures

The Bellen Speech Visualizer provides the student with a target of a word/sound and shows him/her what the correct word/sound would look like.

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THE STORY OF CARLI PRETORIUS

“I hope to represent my country overseas soon!”

My name is Carli Pretorius, and I am from Stellenbosch in the Western Cape province of South Africa. At the age of one year I was injured in
a car accident and sustained a partial hearing loss, and I have had some trouble speaking clearly as a result – especially in English. By using the Speech Visualizer, however, I was able to improve my English, which has meant a lot to me. It has also really helped me in my studies. I enjoy sport activities – especially gymnastics, where I do shot put and javelin – and I hope to represent my country overseas someday soon.