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From: John Harrison
Date: 10 Oct 2006
Time: 04:15:56 -0500
Remote Name: 71.135.107.221
David, <<How could anti-stuttering devices be improved, or how should consumers use the devices, to maximize positive long-term effects? Casa Futura Technologies has developed several innovations to improve long-term effectiveness. First, one-half octave or one octave FAF downshifting is used to induce relaxed breathing and relaxed vocal folds. Studies of non-stutterers found that this induced changes in vocal pitch, due to changes in speech motor (muscle) activity. Second, the Pocket Speech Lab monitors the user's vocal fold tension. When the user speaks with tense vocal folds, the device switches on DAF and FAF to induce speech motor changes. When the user speaks with relaxed vocal folds, the device switches off the sound. The user is thus trained to speak with relaxed vocal folds, without relying on DAF and FAF. Third, improved training materials (including a video) encourage consumers to use the devices to help them slow their speaking rate by stretching vowels (continuous phonation), to speak with relaxed breathing and vocal folds, and to make psychological changes such as talking more or identifying and reducing speech-related fears and anxieties.>> Wow, that's really creative, David. Congratulations. That's the kind of thinking we need more of. Regards, John