5 Things SLPs Need to Know About Stuttering and Voice AI (Artificial Intelligence)

Martha Horrocks
Jul 19, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Nov 18, 2024

The classroom is undergoing a tech revolution! Voice AI (Artificial Intelligence) is finding its way into various aspects of learning, from assessing reading fluency to facilitating pronunciation practice. While this offers exciting possibilities for many students and their teachers, it can pose new challenges for those who stutter.

"It’s daily... Technology is supposed to help people communicate better, but the current level of voice AI makes people who stutter feel discriminated against by the technology itself."

- Jia Bin, “Building Voice AI That Works for Everyone”, Michigan State University

1. Teachers Are Starting to Use Voice AI in the Classroom.

Teachers are increasingly integrating voice AI into their classrooms to enhance learning and streamline their workload. Here are some of the ways voice AI is being used:

Answering Questions and Clarifying Directions: When the teacher isn’t available, voice AI can answer students’ questions and clarify directions, providing immediate support and keeping students on track.

Assessing Reading Comprehension and Fluency: Voice AI can evaluate students' reading comprehension and fluency, offering instant feedback and personalized recommendations to improve their skills.
Teaching Reading and Writing Skills: Voice AI assists in teaching fundamental reading and writing skills, offering interactive exercises and activities that engage students and reinforce learning.

Want to learn more? Read an article about Voice AI and literacy in the classroom here.

2. Voice AI Doesn't Get Stuttering - Yet.

Imagine being a 10-year-old student who stutters, using voice AI to practice reading. When you stutter on a word, the AI interprets it as an error and marks you wrong. Frustrating, right?

Current voice AI technology relies heavily on analyzing sound patterns to match them with words and sentences. Therefore, AI misinterprets repetitions, blocks, and prolongations as errors, leading to inaccurate assessments and potentially frustrating experiences for students.

"'Voice AI systems are not designed to handle stuttering, [J. Scott] Yaruss said. These systems analyze audio, matching sounds to probable words and then linking them to determine probable sentences. ‘What happens with stuttering is those word units are disrupted,” he said. For example, if a person stutters on “when’ and says ‘wh-wh-wh,’ current models don’t have a word match for that.'"

Building Voice AI That Works for Everyone, Michigan State University

3. There is Hope for the Future: Enter HeardAI.

A team at Michigan State University is developing an app called HeardAI to address the challenges people who stutter face with voice-activated AI systems. The HeardAI project is unique because it’s user-driven, with people who stutter providing input throughout the development process.

The team recently recently received a $5 million National Science Foundation grant to work on this project.

Learn more about HeardAI here.

Team Members: Nihar Mahapatra, Jia Bin, Caryn Herring, Anne Marie Ryan, Megan Arney, J. Scott Yaruss, and Hope Gerlach-Houck

4. There Are Accessibility Options You Can Use Now!

Many existing voice AI assistants like Alexa and Siri offer accessibility features that can be helpful for students who stutter.

Explore Settings: Look for settings like "Adaptive Listening Mode" (Alexa) or "Pause Time" (Siri). These features give students more time to speak before the AI interprets their silence as the end of their utterance. Ezra from Stutterology has a great tutorial for using Adaptive Listening Mode with Alexa - watch here!

Advocate for Use: Connect with teachers who utilize voice AI tools. Advocate for them to explore and utilize these accessibility features in the classroom to ensure the technology is accessible for students who stutter.

5. You Can Support Your Students in The Interim.

While we wait for more inclusive AI technology, here are some practical steps you can take:

Advocate for Awareness with Teachers: Connect with teachers when specific voice AI tools create communication barriers. Collaborate with them to explore alternative methods and accommodations that can better support students who stutter.

Empower Students for Self-Advocacy: Equip students who stutter with self-advocacy skills. Role-play scenarios where they explain their communication needs and politely request alternative ways to interact with voice AI. This can help them feel more confident and assertive in managing their interactions with AI technology.

Support Positive Self-Identity: Help students develop a positive self-image and embrace their unique communication style. Focus on their strengths as communicators and the value of their voices. Encourage activities and discussions that celebrate their achievements and build resilience against the frustrations of using imperfect AI technology.

We've unpacked the challenges and opportunities AI presents for students who stutter. The key takeaway? SLPs can play a vital role in bridging the gap. By staying informed about AI advancements and advocating for accessible features, we can ensure voice AI becomes a tool for empowerment, not exclusion.

The future of AI in education is bright, but the journey doesn't end there. Here at Support for Young Stutterers, we're committed to staying at the forefront of this conversation! We'll continue to share updates on AI advancements and resources specifically designed to support children who stutter.

Mahapatra, N., Ryan, A. M., & J. Scott, Yaruss. (2024). Building voice AI that works for everyone. The Engaged Scholar E-Newsletter - Michigan State University, 16(1). https://engagedscholar.msu.edu/enewsletter/volume16/issue1/voice-ai.aspx#:~:text=A%20multidisciplinary%20team%20of%20MSU,psychology%2C%20and%20people%20who%20stutter.