Design and Development of Let’s Talk Now: A Speech Assistive Mobile App for Dysarthric Children

Abstract

Dysarthria is a neurological disorder that damages the articulation of motor speech. Medical researchers have shown that young children suffering from dysarthria have no difficulty with their cognition, however since they are unable to communicate properly and smoothly with their family and friends, they have trouble speaking their thoughts. A multimedia assistive speaking intervention in the form of a mobile application named 'Let's Talk Now' which was designed and developed for the use of dysarthric children aged 3 to 7 years old. This application was meant to be an early intervention to encourage these children to communicate and enable others to understand them. It focuses on general terms of conversation for calling members of the family, simple greetings and gestures, locations, ordering food and drinks, listing events, and asking for support. This paper describes the design and development process of the speech assistive mobile application. It was designed and developed based on the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Develop, Implement and Evaluate) Model. This paper also includes details on the evaluation of the prototype: alpha test and beta test. The purpose of designing and developing speech assistive multimedia tool for dysarthric children was to help them to be able to converse and interact with others at the early stage of recovery intervention. It is also an attempt to uphold the obligations of the Department of Social Welfare under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to provide recommendations for the care and support of the children with disabilities.