Methods and devices for intraoral tactile feedback

Abstract

The present invention is directed to methods and devices for teaching the proper configuration of the oral articulators, particularly the tongue, corresponding to particular speech sounds by providing intraoral tactile feedback. Intraoral tactile feedback is achieved by placing nodes in the oral cavity of the patient in locations corresponding to the proper lingual position required to produce a target sound. These nodes facilitate identification of the appropriate lingual position corresponding to a target speech sound by providing tactile differentiation when the target sound is properly produced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of teaching a person to pronounce a particular sound, which comprises:
 providing at least one sound training device comprising a handle, a node support and one or more nodes for indicating proper positioning of the person's tongue for accurate pronunciation of the particular sound, with the node support configured and dimensioned (a) to provide tactile feedback to the person at its respective node location(s) on the node support with the feedback signaling proper positioning of the tongue for accurate pronunciation of the particular sound, and (b) to limit intrusiveness in the person's mouth while providing sufficient strength to support the one or more nodes; and   providing the device with registration features for positioning the device in an appropriate location in the person's oral cavity such that the person's tongue is able to freely navigate to contact the one or more nodes and be positioned for making the particular sound with the location being dependent on the particular sound to made, wherein, when the tongue is so positioned, the sound training device provides tactile feedback to the person to assist in proper and accurate pronunciation of the particular sound.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  which further comprises:
 positioning the device and one or more nodes in a location in the person's oral cavity corresponding to the appropriate lingual position for a particular speech sound; and 
 prompting the person to make the particular speech sound by contacting the node or nodes with his or her tongue. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device is selected from a group of devices including:
 a first device comprising a cylindrical node configured to be positioned in a medial location inferior to the person's palate to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the /r/ sound;   a second device comprising a node configured to be positioned in a location on the person's alveolar ridge to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the /l/, /t/, or /d/ sound;   a third device comprising a pair of nodes configured to be positioned in lateral posterior locations on either side of the person's palate to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the /k/ or /g/ sound;   a fourth device comprising a pair of nodes configured to be positioned in lateral anterior locations on either side of the person's palate to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the /j/ sound;   a fifth device comprising a node configured to be positioned in an anterior location inferior to the person's palate to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the /s/, /z/, /Σ/ (sh), or /Z/ (ζη) sounds; and   a sixth device comprising a node configured to be positioned in an anterior location on the person's palate to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the /τΣ/ (ch) or /δZ/ (j) sound.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the person is hearing impaired. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the person suffers from acquired apraxia of speech, developmental apraxia of speech, or dysarthria. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the person is learning to speak sounds that are foreign to his or her native language. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each of the devices may be used in connection with a non-English language speech sound that is similar to the English speech sound to which the device corresponds. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , which further comprises providing the device with at least one node comprising a sensor, with the sensor providing a signal based on sensing lingual contact with the node, and transmitting the signal to a computer. 
     
     
         9 . An article for teaching a person to pronounce a particular sound, the article comprising:
 a handle, a node support and one or more nodes for indicating proper positioning of the person's tongue for accurate pronunciation of the particular sound, with the node support configured and dimensioned (a) to provide tactile feedback to the person at its respective node location(s) on the node support with the feedback signaling proper positioning of the tongue for accurate pronunciation of the particular sound, and (b) to limit intrusiveness in the person's mouth while providing sufficient strength to support the one or more nodes, and   registration features for positioning the device in an appropriate location in the person's oral cavity such that the person's tongue is able to freely navigate to contact the one or more nodes and be positioned for making the particular sound with the location being dependent on the particular sound to made, wherein, when the tongue is so positioned, the sound training device provides tactile feedback to the person to assist in proper and accurate pronunciation of the particular sound.   
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the handle permits holding and positioning of the one or more nodes in the person's oral cavity so as to automatically place the one or more nodes in correspondence with proper lingual positions for production of the particular sound. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more nodes are configured in a spring or coil shape, or supported on a slide that allows the one or more nodes to move in response to pressure applied by the person's tongue. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein at least one node comprises a sensor for providing a signal based on sensing lingual contact with the node, and for transmitting the signal to a computer. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 10 , specifically in the form of:
 a first device consisting of a cylindrical node configured to be positioned in a medial location inferior to the person's palate to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the /r/ sound;   a second device consisting of a node configured to be positioned in a location on the person's alveolar ridge to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the /l/, /t/, or /d/ sound;   a third device consisting of a pair of nodes configured to be positioned in lateral posterior locations on either side of the person's palate to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the /k/ or /g/ sound;   a fourth device consisting of a pair of nodes configured to be positioned in lateral anterior locations on either side of the person's palate to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the /j/ sound;   a fifth device consisting of a node configured to be positioned in an anterior location inferior to the person's palate to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the /s/, /z/, /Σ/ (sh), or /Z/ (ζη) sounds; or   a sixth device consisting of a node configured to be positioned in an anterior location on the person's palate to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the /τΣ/ (ch) or /δZ/ (j) sound.