Electronic Fluency Aids

One recent trend in speech therapy is the use of electronic fluency aids. These devices are mostly based on altering the pitch with which the speaker hears his or her own speech (frequency altered feedback or altered auditory feedback), playing back speech slightly delayed (delayed auditory feedback), playing white noise to disallow the individual from hearing his own voice, and playing slow and steady clicks, much like a metronome. These approaches have variously been said to either offer great success, or to have no effect whatsoever. It is still unclear why these devices may work to alleviate stutters. Recent advances in digital technology have made the commercial application of these devices possible, and such products are already available, although they have yet to be widely adopted due to their high cost. The most popular form of electronic fluency aids are devices that are placed inside the ear, resembling hearing aids.