Virtual Reality Environments for Stuttering treatment

Virtually Better, Inc., Decatur GA

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Computer-generated Virtual Reality Environments (VRE's) allow people to have experiences that mimic those of the real world in a safe, controlled, and confidential virtual world. This Phase I STTR proposal aims to develop a Virtual Reality Job Interview (VRJI) Environment to evaluate the effect of such a structured situations upon the Speech patterns of adults who stutter. VR has been used successfully in the rehabilitation of persons with anxiety disorders, phobias, and brain damage. To date VR has not been used in stuttering treatment. Stuttering in adulthood often impacts quality of life, employment opportunities and choices, and psychosocial well-being. Current treatments of stuttering are efficacious but obtaining generalization of treatment effects is challenging. To promote generalization, clients practice techniques learned in treatment outside of the treatment room. Challenges to generalization include: maintaining client confidentiality, reduced efficiency and cost effectiveness, and lack of therapist control over the environment in which new techniques are practiced. We propose to develop the first of a series of VRE's that will support generalization of treatment effects in persons who stutter. Additionally, this VRE has application in other communications disorders and, with minor modification, applicability in other aspects of mental health and the broader economy. The aims of this grant are to: 1) Develop an immersive VR Job Interview environment that increases stuttering in adults who stutter;, 2) Evaluate the potential use of the developed VRE in treatment for adults who stutter, and 3) Write a manual that describes the application of this technology to stuttering treatment. The VRJI will contain both challenging and supportive virtual interviewers. The longterm objectives of a Phase II application include the development and testing of the VRJI in a controlled clinical trial a stuttering treatment augmented by several VRE's designed to aide in the generalization of treatment to real world settings. [unreadable] [unreadable]