SpeakinMotion 1.1.1

SpeakinMotion - *** Important Notes:
-This is a large application - please expect longer than a

This is the version of SpeakinMotion for iPhone / iPod Touch.

*** Important Notes:
-This is a large application - please expect longer than average download times
-This is an introductory app - please contact us at support@speakinmotion.com with any feedback, concerns, etc - we would welcome the opportunity to improve the app.
SpeakinMotion on the iPhone delivers a mobile VAST™ solution – providing specialized therapy and functional video to help communicatively impaired individuals speak for themselves. VAST is an innovative application of video technology to facilitate and improve communication abilities for speech-impaired individuals (usually as a result of stroke or traumatic brain injury). Following close-up video of mouth movements allows these individuals to speak full sentences. The simultaneous combination of visual, auditory and, in some cases, written cues, allows these individuals to readily produce speech. VAST facilitates:
- live communication and
- individualized, mobile speech practice.
The natural rate and rhythm of video scripts is important in stimulating the appropriate connections between the brain and the speech muscles. Most importantly, VAST allows individuals to communicate themselves.
This release of the SpeakinMotion application provides an introductory set of generic VAST videos. We hope that this small sampling of content will encourage users to think about the vast possibilities for additional videos serving everyday communication needs, individualized interests and therapeutic uses.
We have organized the VAST videos into two main categories – Functional and Therapy. All video has been recorded by Darlene Williamson, M.A., CCC-SLP, in a style, rate and rhythm that our research has shown is most effective for the average user.
The Functional category makes possible live oral communication where otherwise impossible. Standard text-to-speech functionality results in a computerized voice. By following along with the video, VAST allows a user to communicate their message with their own voice. We include a sample set of Functional videos, which is further divided into sub-categories to facilitate easier navigation. The videos may ultimately be customized, making the potential uses limitless.
VAST may also be used for repetitive speech rehabilitation training, which we call the Therapy category. Repetition and practice are essential to relearning speech motor skills. VAST extends established speech rehabilitation techniques by providing a mechanism to practice independently and to make more efficient use of time with a speech professional. Again, we have provided a sample set of Therapy videos.
VAST has been developed by Darlene Williamson, M.A., CCC-SLP at the Stroke Comeback Center in Vienna, VA. Ongoing research is being conducted at the Stroke Comeback Center by a team of experienced speech professionals. We hope that the consultation of this team has resulted in an easy-to-use, “aphasia-friendly” application.
To date, the research around VAST has focused primarily on Apraxia and persistent, non-fluent Aphasia. We have seen extremely positive results, allowing individuals to speak full sentences, with a more natural rhythm than they would otherwise be capable of achieving. Furthermore, we have seen success with individuals who have had no prior experience or training. We believe this approach has further potential to help in other presentations of acquired speech impairment, childhood developmental speech disorders, hearing-based speech impairments or foreign dialect training.
We believe that VAST can serve as another tool for speech-language pathologists to use with their clients. We hope this application will allow end users and professionals alike to quickly and easily begin to experiment with VAST.
If you have any input surrounding VAST or this application, or would like to participate in further research efforts, please contact us at interest@speakinmotion.com.

This is the iPhone / iPod Touch version of SpeakinMotion 1.1.1