AI-Integrated Virtual Reality Speech Therapy in Children With Speech Sound Disorders

NCT07863778 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: SU91-PHRSW-F23-010
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 64
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

Speech sound disorders can affect intelligibility, learning, participation, and communication in children. This completed randomized controlled trial evaluated AI-Integrated Virtual Reality Speech Therapy (AI-IVR-ST) against conventional speech therapy in children aged 5 to 12 years with articulation and/or phonological disorders. Sixty-four children were randomized equally to two groups and received treatment three times per week for 12 weeks. The principal efficacy outcome was Percentage of Consonants Correct (PCC). Additional outcomes included GFTA-3, PPVT-4, therapy engagement and adherence, FACES III, and ASHA NOMS.

Conditions

Speech Sound Disorder; Articulation Disorder; Phonological Disorder

Keywords

Artificial intelligence; Virtual reality; Non-immersive virtual reality; Speech therapy; Pediatric rehabilitation; Percentage of Consonants Correct; Automatic speech recognition; Speech Blubs; Kinect; Engagement; Adherence

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Percentage of Consonants Correct (PCC)

  PCC is the percentage of intended consonants produced correctly in a defined speech sample, calculated as the number of correctly produced consonants divided by total intended consonants and multiplied by 100. Higher percentages indicate greater phonological accuracy.

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation, Third Edition (GFTA-3) Standard Score

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

• Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Fourth Edition (PPVT-4) Standard Score

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

• Therapy Engagement Composite Score Assessed Using the Study-Specific Therapist-Rated Engagement Checklist

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

• Therapy Adherence

  Weekly during the 12-week intervention; summary at Week 6 and Week 12

• FACES III Total Score

  Baseline and Week 12

Study Arms (2)

Experimental: AI-Integrated Virtual Reality Speech Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants received AI-IVR-ST three times per week for 12 weeks. Each 45- to 50-minute clinic session included Kinect-based non-immersive virtual reality, AI-assisted Speech Blubs practice, and therapist-guided speech generalization. Caregiver-supervised Speech Blubs home practice was prescribed for approximately 15 to 20 minutes per day, five days per week.

Other: AI-Integrated Virtual Reality Speech Therapy (AI-IVR-ST)

Active Comparator: Conventional Speech Therapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants received conventional face-to-face speech therapy from a speech-language pathologist for approximately 45 to 50 minutes, three times per week, for 12 weeks, together with a printed home exercise programme.

Other: Conventional Speech Therapy

Interventions

AI-Integrated Virtual Reality Speech Therapy (AI-IVR-ST) OTHER

The multicomponent programme combined approximately 15 minutes of Kinect-based non-immersive virtual reality, 15 to 20 minutes of AI-assisted Speech Blubs practice, and 10 to 15 minutes of therapist-guided speech generalization. The intervention progressed from isolated sounds and syllables to words, phrases, sentences, conversation, and spontaneous communication. Caregivers supervised home Speech Blubs practice for approximately 15 to 20 minutes per day on five days per week.

Also known as: AI-IVR-ST

Experimental: AI-Integrated Virtual Reality Speech Therapy

Conventional Speech Therapy OTHER

Conventional face-to-face speech therapy included articulation therapy, phonological intervention, auditory discrimination, minimal-pair therapy, cycles-based elements, mirror therapy, picture and object naming, word-to-sentence practice, storytelling, conversational speech, and a printed home exercise programme. Sessions lasted approximately 45 to 50 minutes, three times per week for 12 weeks.

Active Comparator: Conventional Speech Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 5 Years - 12 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Age 5 to 12 years.
• Confirmed articulation disorder and/or phonological disorder diagnosed by a qualified speech-language pathologist.
• Ability to follow simple verbal instructions.
• Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing.
• Written caregiver consent and age-appropriate child assent where applicable.
• Availability to participate throughout the 12-week intervention period.

You may not qualify if:

• Autism spectrum disorder.
• Cerebral palsy.
• Intellectual disability.
• Hearing impairment incompatible with study assessment.
• Cleft lip and/or palate.
• Neurological disorders affecting speech.
• Severe behavioural disorders that prevented participation.
• Intensive speech therapy during the preceding three months.
• Medical conditions that prevented safe participation in the intervention.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Superior University: lead

Study Sites (2)

Chaudhary Muhammad Akram Teaching Hospital

Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan

Location

Comprehensive Rehabilitation Centre, Superior University Lahore

Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Speech Sound Disorder; Articulation Disorders; Communication Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Officials

• Fariha Ambreen Chaudhry

  Superior University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Outcome assessment was performed by trained speech-language pathologists who were kept unaware of treatment allocation. Participants, caregivers, and treating therapists could not be blinded because of the visible nature of the interventions.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to AI-IVR-ST or conventional speech therapy, with 32 participants per group.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 22, 2026
• First Posted: October 7, 2026
• Study Start: July 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: September 30, 2025
• Study Completion: September 30, 2025
• Last Updated: October 7, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (2)