Customised assistance for speech therapy
The Ortho-logo-paedia (OLP) project has developed an integrated computer-based system which can supplement conventional speech disorder therapy. It offers real-time visual feedback to assist in articulation improvement. Furthermore, automatic speech recognition assesses this improvement and provides an interface to assertive technology and/or speech synthesis. Therapy can be conducted off -site via the Internet. The feedback as well as the recognition component can be customised for a particular individual or group. Now a database known as 'The Lemon and Lime Library', initially designed to be used with the OLP program, has become a useful resource independently. It is comprised of an articulation screening test, words systematically selected according to linguistic and phonetic criteria and fun sentences and tongue twisters. A vast amount of material can be housed and readily accessed from a CD database via an easy-to-understand colourful screen by supplying the relevant phonetic criteria. Additionally, this screen permits the design worksheets with words, pictures and instructions for each individual. This allows practice material to be tailored for the patient while simultaneously maintaining a professional appeal. Since it is a quick, easy and versatile phonetic resource it is invaluable to speech and language therapists, teachers and students alike.
