Speak Out October 2020 DIGITAL EDITION FINAL

Association NEWS

Say Bananas!* The game changer in speech therapy Winning Innovation A CO-DESIGN WITH AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN AND SLPS TO DEVELOP A TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION THAT IS EVIDIENCE-BASED AND RESOURCE-EFFECTIVE HAS WON THE SPEECH PATHOLOGY AUSTRALIA INNOVATION AWARD IN THE RESEARCH CATEGORY. PROFESSOR KIRRIE BALLARD OUTLINES THE RESEARCH AND SOLUTIONS OF THE WINNING SUBMISSION.

*Note: The system has been published to date under the name Apraxia World. The name has been changed as its use is not specific to children with apraxia of speech. Team members: (*SPA member) • *Prof Kirrie Ballard (Speech Pathologist), University of Sydney • Dr Beena Ahmed (Electrical Engineer), University of NSW • Prof Ricardo Gutierrez-Osuna (Computer Scientist), Texas A&M University, USA • Mr Adam Hair (PhD candidate, Computer Scientist), Texas A&M University, USA • Mr Mostafa Shahin (PhD Candidate, Electrical Engineer), University of NSW • *Dr Jacqueline McKechnie (Speech Pathologist), University of Canberra • *Ms Penelope Monroe (PhD candidate, Speech Pathologist), NSW Health • *Ms Constantina Markoulli (Speech Pathologist), University of Sydney, Private practice. Funding: NPRP grant #8-293-2-124 from Qatar National Research Fund (member of Qatar Foundation) The research innovation Through collaboration between speech-language pathologists (SLPs), engineers and computer scientists, we have developed an interactive video-gaming system for remote tablet-based speech therapy. The system can solve the challenge of delivering intensive evidence- based treatment protocols to children with speech sound disorders (SSDs) across both urban and regional/rural

Kirrie Ballard

with communication disorders receive no, or insufficient, treatment (SPA, 2014; Skeat et al., 2013; Sugden et al., 2016, 2018). The recommended dosage for SSDs is 2–5 sessions/week with a dose of 50–100 production trials/ session (Sudgen et al., 2016; Namasivayam et al., 2015; Thomas et al., 2014). Australian SLPs report that 92% of children are “under-dosed”, 89% of SLPs treat children 1/ week or less, and 96% rely on carers to give small daily doses of practice at home (Sugden et al., 2018). Clinician plus carer sessions barely meet the minimum prescribed dosage; but, most carers report being uncomfortable as their child’s teacher, having limited time, and feeling unskilled (Thomas et al., 2018; Sugden et al., 2019). Moreover, SLPs use precious session time to train carers. Our solution Through co-design with Australian children and SLPs, we have developed a technological solution that is evidence- based and resource-effective (Ahmed et al., 2018; Hair et al., 2019; McLeod et al., 2020). Our system consists of three components: 1. An interactive platformer video game (Figure 1) automatically delivers an intensive evidence-based

areas of Australia. The problem

For SSDs, such as childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), treatment involves extended one-on-one practice with an SLP with significant barriers of time, distance, and expense (Ruggero et al., 2012). Over 50% of children

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Speak Out | October 2020