Ultrax2020: using ultrasound technology in the assessment and treatment of speech disorders

The efficacy of using ultrasound as a form of visual biofeedback in intervention for persistent and residual SSD in tightly-controlled contexts is well established, but to date no research has explored its effectiveness in everyday clinical contexts. Data collected from assessment and intervention sessions will be sent to the research team for detailed analysis, including phonetic transcription, and qualitative and quantitative ultrasound measures. Changes to the ultrasound software will be made throughout the project to further improve the accuracy of on-line analysis completed by SLTs in the clinic. Additionally, the effectiveness of ultrasound visual biofeedback in the assessment and treatment of SSD will be investigated, to provide preliminary information for large-scale clinical trials in the future. The overall aim of the Ultrax2020 project is to develop and improve ultrasound as a powerful tool for the accurate and differential diagnosis of childhood SSD. By doing this, speech therapy can be optimised to suit each individual child, leading to more efficient outcomes for children with SSD.