What is SpeechMatch?
Individuals hear a phrase that may be happy, sad, pleasant or unpleasant surprise, neutral or funny. While they listen they see the sound wave generated by the phrase. They then speak the phrase, generating their own sound wave and receive immediate feedback about their percentage match of volume, rhythm, pitch and overall match. The person keeps practicing to improve their scores which works to improve their conversational skills.
"My patients have found SpeechMatch to be very helpful. I have been following the progress of this software program designed to help individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders improve their social/communication skills. After years of development and study I am impressed that SpeechMatch has emerged from the research lab and is now available for public use as a viable clinical tool."
-Eric Hollander, MD Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Director of the Autism and Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Program at Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine
“SpeechMatch is a research supported software platform for improving pragmatic language skills in individuals on the autism spectrum. It is good to see the rigorous processes of moving from basic studies to translation to a clinical tool, and exciting to see that what started out as a simple idea - to improve skills with active visual feedback - has lead to a program that many can now use and provide their own feedback about its effectiveness. I urge families to download the program and try it out!”
-Laszlo Papp, MD Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Associate Attending at New York Presbyterian Hospital Director of the Biological Studies Unit at the New York State Psychiatric Institute Director of Anxiety Disorders Research at Hillside Hospital
SpeechMatch was created by Dr. Larry Welkowitz and Dr. Robert Taub to help people on the autism spectrum improve their communication skills. This tool was developed by combining behavioral research on visual feedback and shaping (Welkowitz) with music software used to represent critical components of sound (Taub). Years of collaboration and study have contributed to the release of SpeechMatch to parents and professionals.