Current Research

Various technologies can be harnessed to provide visual biofeedback for speech. Our lab is currently investigating the effectiveness of three types of real-time biofeedback in therapy for misarticulation of the /r/ sound. The three types we focus on are acoustic, ultrasound, and electropalatographic (EPG) biofeedback.

Acoustic Biofeedback

The client views a computer-generated acoustic representation (e.g., LPC spectrum) of his/her speech. The client is directed to match a target frequency pattern.

Ultrasound Biofeedback

An ultrasound probe held beneath the chin generates an image of the client’s tongue during speech. The client is directed to match an individualized tongue shape.

Electropalatographic (EPG) Biofeedback

The client uses a pseudopalate, which registers and displays areas of contact between the client’s tongue and palate. The client is directed to match a target tongue-to palate contact pattern.

Visual Biofeedback Treatment Opportunities

We offer visual biofeedback treatment for candidates who qualify as part of our research or fee-for-service track. If you would like additional information regarding our treatment programs, please contact Elaine Hitchcock at hitchcocke@montclair.edu. The application is available for download here.

Selected Publications and Presentations

Publications

Hitchcock, E.R., McAllister Byun, T., Swartz, M., & Lazarus, R. (2017). Effectiveness of electropalatography for treating misarticulation of /r/. American Journal of Speech Language Pathology, 1-18.

McAllister Byun, T., Hitchcock, E.R., & Ferron, J. (2017). Masked visual analysis: Minimizing type I error in visually guided single-case design for communication disorders. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 1-12.

Campbell, H., Harel, D., Hitchcock, E.R., & McAllister Byun, T. (2017). Selecting an acoustic correlate for automated measurement of American English rhotic production in children. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 1-9.

Harel, D., Hitchcock, E. R., Ortiz, J., Szeredi, D., & McAllister Byun, T. (2016). Finding the experts in the crowd: Validity and reliability of crowdsourced measures of child covert contrasts. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 1-14.

Hitchcock, E.R., McAllister, Byun, T., & Harel, D. (2015). Social, emotional, and academic impact of residual speech errors in school-age children: A survey study. Seminars in Speech and Language Seminars in Speech and Language, 36, 283-294.

Hitchcock, E.R., & Koenig, L.L. (2015). Longitudinal observations of typical English voicing acquisition in a 2 year-old child: Stability of the contrast and considerations for clinical assessment. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 29(12), 955-976.

McAllister Byun T, Hitchcock E.R., & Harel D. (2015) Validating and optimizing a crowdsourced method for gradient measures of child speech. Conference paper: Interspeech 2015.

Hitchcock, E.R., & McAllister Byun, T. (2015). Enhancing generalisation in biofeedback intervention using the challenge point framework: A case study. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 29(1), 59-75.

Byun, T. M., Hitchcock, E.R., & Swartz, M. T. (2014). Retroflex versus bunched in treatment for rhotic misarticulation: Evidence from ultrasound biofeedback intervention. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 57(6), 2116-2130.

Hitchcock , E.R., & Koenig, L. L. (2013). The effects of data reduction in determining the schedule of voicing acquisition in young children. Journal of Speech Language Hearing Research, Vol. 56, 441-457.

McAllister Byun, T., & Hitchcock, E.R. (2012). Investigating the use of traditional and spectral biofeedback approaches to intervention for /r/ misarticulation. American Journal of Speech-Language-Pathology, Vol. 21, 207-221.

Presentations

Hitchcock, E.R., & McAllister Byun, T. (2017, July). Comparison of biofeedback approaches to intervention for residual speech errors. Presentation at the 7th International Conference on Speech Motor Control, Groningen, the Netherlands.

Hitchcock, E.R., & Koenig, L.L. (2017, June). The role of voice onset time in the perception of English voicing contrasts in children's speech. Poster session presentation at the 173th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Boston, MA.

McAllister Byun, T., Harel, D., Hitchcock, E.R., Lopez, M. (2017, June). Not-quite-naive listeners: Students as an audience for gamified crowdsourcing. Panel presentation at the 173th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Boston, MA.

Harel, D., Hitchcock, E.R., McAllister Byun, T. (2017, May). Students' perceptual ratings of child speech: Accuracy, efficiency, and gamification. Seminar presentation at the International Child Phonology Conference, Washington, DC.

Hitchcock, E.R. (2016). Training on biofeedback for speech sound disorders. Seminar presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Convention, Philadelphia, PA.

Hitchcock, E. R., Lazarus, R., & Swartz, M. (2016). Assessing tongue-to-palate contact patterns in /r/ remediation using Electropalatography. Poster presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Convention, Philadelphia, PA.

Hitchcock, E. R., McAllister Byun, T., Dioguardi, L., & Lopez, M. (2016). Comparing perceptual ratings of /r/ accuracy across expert and crowdsourced listeners. Poster presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Convention, Philadelphia, PA.

Hitchcock, E.R., & Koenig, L.L. (2015). Adults' perceptual voicing boundaries of 2-year-olds' citation form speech. Poster session presentation at the 170th meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Jacksonville, FL.

Hitchcock, E.R., Harel, D., & McAllister Byun, T. (2015). When should we treat residual speech errors? Survey data on social, emotional, and academic impacts. Technical Seminar presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Convention, Denver, CO.

Hitchcock, E.R., Shubeck, K.R., & Russell, C. (2015). Adult Perception of Stop Consonants in Two Year Old Children’s Speech. Poster session at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Convention, Denver, CO.

Preston, J, Hitchcock, E.R., McAllister Byun. (2015). Ultrasound biofeedback for speech sound disorders: Hands-on clinical training. Three hour short course presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Convention, Denver, CO.

McAllister Byun T, Hitchcock E.R., & Harel D. (2015) Validating and optimizing a crowdsourced method for gradient measures of child speech. Submitted to Interspeech 2015 Special Session: Advanced Crowdsourcing for Speech and Beyond, Dresden, Germany.

Hitchcock, E.R., & Koenig, L.L. (2014). Effects of vowel position and place of articulation on voice onset time in children: Longitudinal data. Poster session presentation at the 168th meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Indianapolis, IN.

Hitchcock, E.R., Swartz, M., & Lazarus, R. (2014). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Electropalatography for Treating Misarticulation of /r/: Establishment through Generalization. Technical talk at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Convention, Orlando, FL.

McAllister Byun, T., Hitchcock, E.R., & Ortiz, J. (2014). Challenge-R: Computerized challenge point /r/ treatment. Seminar presentation at the American Speech- Language-Hearing Association National Convention, Orlando, FL.

Klein, H., McAllister Byun, T. & Hitchcock, E.R., (2014). Approaches to Vocalic and Consonantal ‘r’ Intervention: Auditory, Acoustic, Ultrasound. Seminar presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Convention, Orlando, FL.

Hitchcock, E.R., Swartz, M., & Lazarus, R. (2014). Efficacy of Visual Biofeedback Using Electropalatography for Misarticulation. Poster session presentation at the New Jersey Speech Language and Hearing Convention, Long Branch, NJ.

Hitchcock, E.R., Ochs, L., & Gencarelli, P. (2013). Patterns of contrastive voicing in typically developing preschool and school age children. Poster session presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Convention, Chicago, Il.

Hitchcock, E.R., & McAllister Byun, T. (2013). Enhancing generalization in biofeedback intervention using the challenge point framework. Poster session presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Convention, Chicago, Il.

McAllister Byun, T. & Hitchcock, E.R., Swartz, M. (2013). Targeting retroflex versus bunched /r/: Evidence from ultrasound biofeedback intervention. Seminar presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Convention, Chicago, Il.

McAllister Byun, T. & Hitchcock, E.R. (2013). Retroflex versus bunched /r/ in ultrasound intervention: One shape does not fit all? Seminar presentation at Ultrafest VI, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Hitchcock, E.R., & Koenig, L.L. (2012). Development of the English voicing contrast: A longitudinal case study. Poster session presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Convention, Atlanta, GA.

McAllister Byun, T. & Hitchcock, E.R. (2011). Treating /r/ misarticulation: Benefits of computer-based intervention. Seminar presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Convention, San Diego, CA.

Hitchcock, E. (2008). Use of Clinical Technology in Speech-Language Pathology. One hour seminar for Intensive Therapeutics, Inc. and Visual Arts Center of New Jersey.