Enhancing Communication in Speech Therapy: Exploring the Cognitive Synergy Between Gesture and Speech

Abstract

This paper examines the adaptation of a rhythm-based interface, originally designed for manual dexterity rehabilitation, for use in speech therapy. The interface allows users to control synthesized vocal phrases through finger tapping, leveraging the cognitive link between gesture and speech. Through interviews with four therapists and pilot tests with one speech therapist and eight children with speech impairments (autism, Down syndrome, verbal apraxia, dyslexia), we found that the interface improves motivation and therapeutic outcomes by facilitating more interactions between verbally challenged patients and the therapist. Our findings suggest that rhythmic gestures can enhance verbal communication, offering potential for broader therapeutic and educational applications.

18 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables