How can I strengthen my natural speaking voice?

Device that helps develop public speaking voice

• I saw a show on the History channel that showed an inventor who had developed an electronic device that hepled people get over their stuttering by listening to an electronicly modified version of their voice as they speak. He also developed a version of it that helped people develop a powerful public speaking voice. It is this device, the public speaking version, that I am trying to find information about. I had thought I saw it on a History channel episode of Modern Marvels, either "Gadgets" or "More Gadgets, where inventors were showcased at an annual competition put on by, I think, Hammacher Schlemmer and the inventor was a competitor. But what I am looking for is information about the electronic device that helps you build a powerful public speaking voice.

• Answer:

  Currently, there are several electronic devices that alter the auditory feedback that persons who stutter hear as they speak. ?For a certain population of persons who stutter, these devices can significantly improve stuttering and help to decrease the avoidance and speech anxiety experienced by persons who stutter. It is known that persons who stutter typically become much more fluent when they read in unison with another person, when they sing, when they cannot hear their own speech and when they hear themselves in a delay.? SpeechEasy ?The SpeechEasy is a digitally programmable battery operated ?in the ear? auditory feedback device which emulates choral speech by altering the person who stutter?s delayed auditory feedback (DAF) and pitch or frequency altered feedback FAF) as they speak. The device can be fit behind-the-ear canal, in-the-ear canal, or completely in the canal. A certified speech-language pathologist who specializes in stuttering will evaluate the person who stutters and modify the DAF and FAF settings until the optimal result is obtained. If the person decides to order the SpeechEasy?, it is custom made and costs from $4500 to $5100. Ninety percent of the purchase price is refunded if it is returned undamaged within 30 days of the purchases. ? Great Voice http://www.greatvoice.com/archive_vc/0104_vc.html Speech Easy Device. ?Developed at the university, the gadget fits in the canal of one ear and works like a small PA system, complete with microphone, amplifier, and speaker. It delivers delayed and altered voice feedback to the stutterer, tricking the brain into thinking that another person is speaking, too.? ABC News http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/DailyNews/stutteringGMA020801.html Relief for Stutterers ?A little gadget may help individuals who suffer from stuttering, a problem which affects approximately 3 million people in the United States. The SpeechEasy, invented by researchers at East Carolina University, is a small earpiece that alters the pitch of the speaker?s voice and transmits it back to the ear. Studies have found that stutterers tend to speak better when someone else is talking. The device thus encourages the brain to promote more fluent speech. Trial tests were 85 percent effective and did not show any side effects. Like glasses, SpeechEasy is effective when worn ? once removed the benefits are gone.? Stanford Daily http://daily.stanford.edu/tempo?page=content&id=10536&repository=0001_article SpeechEasy - How it works http://www.speecheasy.com/how-why.htm SpeechEasy - How to get it http://www.speecheasy.com/howtogetit.htm SpeechEasy - Providers http://www.speecheasy.com/providers.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Fluency Master ?The Fluency Master is a behind-the-ear battery operated device which modifies one?s auditory feedback by providing a low frequency distortion of the person?s voice into their right ear as they speak. Vocal fold vibration for speech is detected by a small microphone placed behind the ear lobe and the speaker hears the distorted sound as his vocal folds begin the vibrate. This device costs $3600. Eighty percent of the purchase price is refunded if it is returned undamaged within 30 days of the purchases. These devices provide an alternative for some persons who stutter who have experienced little success in therapy. ? Great Voice http://www.greatvoice.com/archive_vc/0104_vc.html ?The Fluency Master is a miniature, wearable, electronic stuttering control device that looks like a hearing aid. It fits comfortably behind the ear. The Fluency Master can help control stuttering and significantly enhance speech fluency. The speed and amount of improvement produced by the Fluency Master in the treatment of stuttering are often dramatic.? For more information, please contact us: National Association for Speech Fluency 228 Birch Drive New Hyde Park, NY 11040-2322 Telephone: (516) 248-8383 Email: [email protected] Fax: (516) 294-5454 Stuttering Control http://www.stutteringcontrol.com/ How it works http://www.stutteringcontrol.com/fnwork.htm Schedule an appointment http://www.stutteringcontrol.com/fnobtain.htm FAQ http://www.stutteringcontrol.com/fnquest.htm Search criteria: Device "public speaking? stutter Fluency Master SpeechEasy I hope this helps! Best regards, Bobbie7