New AI System Accelerates Speech Therapy

TikTalk, a new artificial intelligence-based (AI) system, can accelerate speech therapy with unparalleled lesson customization and innovative training for K-6-aged children using highly engaging video games to encourage more frequent home practice.

TikTalk motivates children with speech sound disorders to practice longer and more accurately using proven training protocols in a fun game environment. Designed by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) through clinical research and machine learning, repetitive and tedious practice regimens are now more exciting and rewarding for SLP and patient alike.

“We’ve developed an intuitive, cloud-based virtual assistant that provides real-time or follow-up feedback to motivate children and more effectively eliminate speech issues,” says Nir Gamliel, U.S. head of business development at TikTalk2me, the company that developed TikTalk. “It will be extremely helpful for busy speech-language pathologists who face enormous challenges, from individualizing relevant practice sessions to encouraging accurate, consistent home practice.”

Unparalleled Practice Customization

For the first time, SLPs can now use AI technology to individually treat patient-specific articulation and phonological processing disorders. TikTalk enables SLPs to digitally customize practice word lists with exact target word parameters to ensure correct pronunciation.

“SLPs will love the ability to make individualized digital word banks quickly which they painstakingly now do between sessions,” Gamliel says. “TikTalk will eliminate the use of-off-the shelf materials, save SLPs time and provide a greater return on investment for the parents of children taking speech training.”

Practice, Fun, Games

SLP clinicians already use games and props to engage children in their sessions, but now they can program video games for engaging at home use. Unlike the myriad of apps available, the TikTalk platform incorporates engaging games that can be programmed to encourage target word repetitions, making practice feel like play.

Immediate Practice Feedback Leads to Greater Success

The speech recognition features details practice frequency, duration and accuracy with measurable results. The TikTalk platform analyzes the child’s speech so the SLP can monitor practice and make remote adjustments. TikTalk is the only solution that ensures children receive customized correct, timely feedback while enjoying game-based remote learning.

“We understand that the time available for therapy to be successful is limited by the motivation of the child, and parent’s resources, both financial and emotional,” explains Sandra Laserson M.A. CCC-SLP, an Ohio-based SLP in private practice who helped develop TikTalk. “At the same time, children have little inclination or opportunity to accurately practice their speech sounds outside of therapy. This solution improves both of those issues and the results of our U.S. pilots confirm that.”

SLPs who have used the system echo the results. “My patient practices his words at least three times a week,” says Alicia Verhovitz CCC-SLP in Cleveland, Ohio. “I can't say this about any of my other families, because I can't track their data like I can through the SLP portal on TikTalk. I love knowing when my patient is practicing and for how long.”

Following the recent SLP pilots in Maryland and Ohio, TikTalk is being offered at introductory pricing to agencies, private practice SLPs, and school systems. It requires minimal training and is being updated continuously as the system develops even greater intelligence as more patients use the tool. TikTalk is sold on a monthly and yearly license basis.