Speech Research Laboratory
The Speech Research Laboratory focuses on developing new speech technology and adapting existing speech technology for people with speech and communication difficulties. The lab is part of The Center for Pediatric Auditory and Speech Sciences (CPASS) at the duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. Projects include a speech synthesis system called ModelTalker which allows Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device users to create personalized synthetic voices. The ModelTalker system is also being used to develop adaptive speech material for use in Aural Rehabilitation applications. Another project is using speech recognition technology to develop a system for automating functional hearing evaluation for hearing impaired individuals. The SRL is also studying children’s speech, and has collected a database of children’s speech that includes both normal speech and examples of common articulation difficulties. The database is being used to improve automatic recognition of children’s speech. The improved recognition will be used to develop speech training software including a game-like iPad application intended to work as an adjunct to conventional A/V therapy by providing drill, monitoring progress, and assisting in record keeping and reporting. In addition to application-oriented projects like ModelTalker and aural training systems, the SRL conducts basic research on speech production and perception using state-of-the-art equipment including sound isolation chambers and a Carstens AG-501 electromagnetic articulograph. The Speech Research Laboratory is funded by Nemours Biomedical Research with additional external funding from sources that include NIH, NSF, and NIDRR.Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
1600 Rockland Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19803
United States
Telephone: 302-651-6843.
Fax: 302-651-6895.
Web: http://nemoursresearch.org/cpass/speechLab.html.
Email: speech@asel.udel.edu.
