Innovative Technologies in Stuttering Treatment: An Examination of Virtual Reality, Mobile Applications, Telerehabilitation, and Artificial Intelligence-Based Solutions

Yıl 2025, Sayı: 27, 1156 - 1167, 31.12.2025

Esra Erol , Leyla Türker Şener

https://doi.org/10.38079/igusabder.1663488

Öz

Recent technological advances in the field of health services have been effectively applied to the evaluation and therapy processes of communication disorders in the domain of speech and language therapy. Within the framework of communication disorders, various technological interventions are also applied in the field of stuttering. Stuttering is defined as a speech disorder characterised by involuntary blocking, repetition, or prolongation of speech fluency, sounds, syllables, or words. A substantial body of epidemiological research has revealed that stuttering is a prevalent disorder on a global scale, with incidence rates as high as 5% in the paediatric population and up to 1% in adults. In the field of stuttering rehabilitation, technological applications play a pivotal role. These include virtual reality, mobile applications and telerehabilitation. Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that offers users realistic experiences in computer-aided three-dimensional environments and allows them to interact directly with these environments. In the context of stuttering therapies, this technology enables individuals to develop more effective coping strategies in challenging situations by simulating real-life speech scenarios. VR-based virtual simulations allow individuals with social anxiety to safely practice their social skills and reactions by interacting with realistic avatars in a virtual environment. Mobile applications represent a digital tool that can assist users in enhancing their speaking abilities and in comprehending stuttering-related situations they encounter in their daily lives. These applications offer individuals the opportunity to undertake speech therapy exercises at their own pace, to record their progress regularly, and to communicate easily with their therapists when necessary. Telerehabilitation has been identified as a potentially effective solution for individuals with limited access to health services, particularly those residing in remote areas, by providing easier access to rehabilitation services. This method, which can substitute for traditional face-to-face rehabilitation, enables individuals to continue their therapy processes uninterruptedly through remote connection. Within this scope, a systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, ResearchGate, YÖK Thesis, and Web of Science databases between 2000 and 2024. Of the 55 studies identified, 13 met the inclusion criteria. Consequently, technological rehabilitation, and in particular virtual reality-based approaches, is regarded as a promising method in stuttering therapies. The findings obtained reveal that virtual reality-based rehabilitation applications can offer an innovative and successful solution in reducing social anxiety associated with stuttering.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Stuttering , virtual reality , mobile applications , telerehabilitation , systematic review , speech therapy

Kekemelik Tedavisinde Yenilikçi Teknolojiler: Sanal Gerçeklik, Mobil Uygulamalar, Telerehabilitasyon ve Yapay Zeka Tabanlı Çözümlerin İncelenmesi

Öz

Son dönemlerde sağlık hizmetleri alanındaki teknolojik ilerlemeler, dil ve konuşma terapisi alanında iletişim bozukluklarının değerlendirilmesi ve terapi süreçlerine etkili bir şekilde uygulanmaktadır. İletişim bozuklukları çerçevesinde, kekemelik alanında da çeşitli teknolojik müdahaleler uygulanmaktadır. Kekemelik, konuşma akıcılığının, seslerin, hecelerin veya kelimelerin istemsiz şekilde bloke edilmesi, tekrar edilmesi ya da uzatılması ile tanımlanan bir konuşma bozukluğu olarak ifade edilmektedir. Epidemiyolojik kökenli çalışmalar, kekemeliğin uluslararası bağlamda sık görülen bir bozukluk olduğunu göstermekte ve pediatrik popülasyonda görülme oranının %5’e, erişkin popülasyonda ise %1’e kadar çıkabileceğini ortaya koymaktadır. Kekemelik alanında, sanal gerçeklik, mobil uygulamalar ve telerehabilitasyon gibi çeşitli yöntemleri içeren teknolojik rehabilitasyon uygulamaları kullanılmaktadır. Sanal gerçeklik, kullanıcılara bilgisayar destekli üç boyutlu ortamlarda gerçekçi deneyimler sunan ve bu ortamlarla doğrudan etkileşim kurmalarını sağlayan bir teknolojidir. Kekemelik terapilerinde bu teknoloji, bireylerin günlük hayatta karşılaşabilecekleri zorlayıcı konuşma durumlarını simüle ederek, bu tür anlarda daha etkili başa çıkma stratejileri geliştirmelerine olanak tanımaktadır. Sanal gerçeklik tabanlı sanal simülasyonlar, sosyal kaygı sorunu yaşayan bireylerin, sanal ortamda yer alan gerçekçi avatarlarla etkileşim kurarak sosyal becerilerini ve tepkilerini güvenli bir şekilde pratik etmelerini sağlamaktadır. Mobil uygulamalar, kullanıcıların konuşma yeteneklerini geliştirmelerine ve günlük yaşamda karşılaştıkları kekemelikle ilgili durumları daha yakından takip etmelerine yardımcı olabilecek dijital araçlardır. Bu uygulamalar, bireylere konuşma terapisi egzersizlerini kendi tempolarında yapma fırsatı sunar, gelişimlerini düzenli olarak kayıt altına alır ve gerektiğinde terapistleriyle kolayca iletişim kurmalarını mümkün kılmaktadır. Telerehabilitasyon ise özellikle sağlık hizmetlerine erişim imkânı kısıtlı olan bireyler veya uzak bölgelerde yaşayanlar için etkili bir çözüm sunarak bu kişilerin ihtiyaç duydukları rehabilitasyon hizmetlerine ulaşmalarını kolaylaştırabilmektedir. Geleneksel yüz yüze rehabilitasyonun yerini alabilecek nitelikte olan bu yöntem, uzaktan bağlantı sayesinde bireylerin terapi süreçlerini kesintisiz bir şekilde sürdürmelerine yardımcı olabilmektedir. Bu kapsamda, 2000–2024 yılları arasında PubMed, Google Akademik, Scopus, ResearchGate, YÖK Tez ve Web of Science veri tabanları kullanılarak sistematik bir literatür taraması gerçekleştirilmiştir. Belirlenen 55 çalışmadan 13'ü dahil edilme kriterlerini karşıladı. Sonuç olarak, teknolojik rehabilitasyonun ve özellikle sanal gerçeklik tabanlı yaklaşımların, kekemelik terapilerinde umut vadeden bir yöntem olarak görülmektedir. Elde edilen bulgular, sanal gerçeklik tabanlı rehabilitasyon uygulamalarının, kekemelikle bağlantılı sosyal kaygının azaltılmasında yenilikçi ve başarılı bir çözüm sunabileceğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Kekemelik , sanal gerçeklik , mobil uygulamalar , telerehabilitasyon , sistematik inceleme , konuşma terapisi

Kaynakça

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