INcorporating VoIce AcTivated Communication Aids Into Everyday Communication

NCT05859438 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 171440
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Dysarthria is a speech disorder resulting in speech that is slow, slurred and difficult to understand, limiting a person's opportunities to study, work, and develop relationships. People with dysarthria often use communication aids to help them to communicate creating spoken messages using a keyboard, touchscreen or joystick. Communication aids can increase independence but are often too slow to keep pace with normal conversation. Developments in speech recognition technology have led to apps which can learn to recognise a set of words or sounds spoken by the individual with dysarthria, and connect these with a clear spoken output. The investigator's previous research provides some evidence that these voice input communication apps may be faster than traditional communication aids. This study aims to find out who can benefit from this technology, and what support they will need to use it successfully. This information can be used by professionals involved in providing communication aids, and will help the investigators to plan further research into their effectiveness. This research has two phases:

1. 1.20-30 individuals with dysarthria will be asked to use a voice input communication app for 6 months. The investigator's will collect information on whether VocaTempo improves their communication, and helps participants to reach their goals.
2. 2.Focus groups will be held with professionals involved in providing and supporting people with communication aids, to understand factors affecting their ability to provide the support identified as needed in part 1 of the research.

Conditions

Dysarthria

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Goal Attainment Scale (measuring change between time points of distance from goal)

  Measures attainment of participant defined goals.

  Baseline, 3 and 6 months

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Pragmatic Profile of Everyday Communication Skills in Adults (measuring change between time points of pragmatic communication)

  Baseline, 3 and 6 months.

Other Outcomes (6)

• Speed of Communication by measuring time taken to speak out phrase with device - measuring change between timepoints.

  3 and 6 months

• System Usability Scale (measuring change between time points)

  3 and 6 months

• Semi-structured interview

  Baseline

Study Arms (1)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Communication aid support

Interventions

Communication aid support OTHER

Support to use voice input voice output communication aids

Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Over 18 years of age
• Moderately or severely dysarthric (identified using the Frenchay Dysarthria assessment
• Minimum of 2 distinct vocalisations over which they have voluntary control
• Able to give informed consent and take part in interviews with appropriate communication support (scores level 1-3 on consent support tool)
• Communicates predominantly in English

You may not qualify if:

• They have significant cognitive impairment and are unable to give informed consent on their own behalf or actively take part in interviews (tested using the Consent Support Tool, scoring at level 4), or are unable to use a communication aid.
• They have no controlled vocalisations.
• They have dysarthria as a result of a progressive condition

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Sheffield: lead
• Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Barnsley, S75 2EP, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dysarthria

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Articulation Disorders; Speech Disorders; Language Disorders; Communication Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Kate Fryer

  University of Sheffield

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 20, 2023
• First Posted: May 16, 2023
• Study Start: May 31, 2023
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2025
• Study Completion: April 1, 2025
• Last Updated: March 30, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)