A Model for Treating Voice Disorders in School-Age Children within a Video Gaming Environment

    Authors

    S. N. King; L. Davis; J. J. Lehman;B. H. Ruddy

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Voice

    Keywords

    Voice disorders; Voice therapy; Video games; Serious gaming; Therapeutic; gaming; Games for health; Children; Pediatric; THERAPY; SPEECH; GAMES; Otorhinolaryngology

    Abstract

    Objective. Clinicians use a variety of approaches to motivate children with hyperfunctional voice disorders to comply with voice therapy in a therapeutic session and improve the motivation of children to practice home-based exercises. Utilization of current entertainment technology in such approaches may improve participation and motivation in voice therapy. The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility of using an entertainment video game as a therapy device. Study Design. Prospective cohort and case-control study. Methods. Three levels of game testing were conducted to an existing entertainment video game for use as a voice therapy protocol. The game was tested by two computer programmers and five normal participants. The third level of testing was a case study with a child diagnosed with a hyperfunctional voice disorder. Modifications to the game were made after each feasibility test. Results. Errors with the video game performance were modified, including the addition of a time stamp directory and game controller. Resonance voice exercises were modified to accommodate the gaming environment and unique competitive situation, including speech rate, acoustic parameters, game speed, and point allocations. Conclusion. The development of video games for voice therapeutic purposes attempt to replicate the high levels of engagement and motivation attained with entertainment video games, stimulating a more productive means of learning while doing. This case study found that a purely entertainment video game can be implemented as a voice therapeutic protocol based on information obtained from the case study.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Voice

    Volume

    26

    Issue/Number

    5

    Publication Date

    1-1-2012

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    656

    Last Page

    663

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000308672400020

    ISSN

    0892-1997

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