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From: Brian Humphrey
Date: 21 Oct 2006
Time: 18:18:00 -0500
Remote Name: 66.176.241.118
There have been a number of altered auditory feedback devices for use by people who stutter. Some of these produce delayed auditory feedback (DAF), some produce frequency altered feedback (FAF), and some can produce both. Delayed suditory feedback sounds like an echo of your own voice coming back to your ear. Some cell phone circuit malfunctions give us unwelcome delayed auditory feedback. Frequency altered feedback sends your speaking voice through an earphone at a different pitch. It can make your voice sound like Mickey Mouse if the pitch gets raised, or like Darth Vader if the pitch gets lowered. We are not quite sure how altered auditory feedback produces gains in fluency, but we know that the auditory system has an influence on fluency. Improvements from delayed auditory feedback or frequency altered feedback seem to be like the improvements noted during choral speaking: speaking along with altered auditory feedback may be like speaking along with a voice that is not your own. If you have a computer with headphones and a microphone connected, you may try DAF and FAF on your own computer. AT http://www.artefactsoft.com you may try their DAF/FAF Assistant program. It is inexpensive to purchase. Altered auditory feedback is a recurring topic in the ISAD online conferences. For more information, "A Brief Historical Review or Assistive Devices for Treating Stuttering", by Dr. Larry Molt, provides a good description of the various assistive devices used to alleviate stuttering over the years, including altered auditory feedback devices. This article can be found in the 8th Annual Stuttering Awareness Day Online Conference. To open it directly, direct your web browser to: http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad8/papers/molt8/molt8.html