Does the SpeechEasy really work?

Roley · 01-09-2008, 01:52 PM

I've heard of this device and have looked at their internet site. Wearing a hearing-aid type device doesn't bother me at all. I'm almost 60 and need a hearing aid anyway! What are your experiences? What have you heard about the device? Please let me know.

Thanks.

Roley

NoOne · 01-10-2008, 04:23 PM

I have never used SpeechEasy before. But I'm familiar with the principle the device works on. That is, delayed auditory feedback (DAF). Its like an extra little voice inside your head that repeats everything you say. It basically makes you less self conscience of your speech. It will be sort of like you talking to yourself or in a noisy environment. Either of these situations increases fluency in most stutterers.

Clinical studies have shown that DAF can reduce stuttering significantly. A delay of about 80-100 ms should be good. See here for more details:
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Books/...ures/DAF.shtml

Before you purchase the device. You can get a software which you install on your computer that allows to test the DAF principle. So far I've tested the DAF principle with axSoft Speech corrector:
http://www.speechcorrector.com/
Just download the unregistered version and give it a whirl. You'll obviously need a mic.

Mr Fingers · 01-11-2008, 02:17 PM

I've used both the Speecheasy & the Voiceamp.

Both did nothing for me. And the people who deal with the devices know nothing about stammering either.
I wouldn't trust the American tv shows were it shows people trying the Speecheasy as they all of a sudden speak
perfectly!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/new...334880&bbcws=2

Bill Hargis · 01-30-2008, 03:11 PM

I Didn't hear of the speecheasy until I was 62 and retired, I tried a dummy model that the provider had and immediately ordered one. I was a life changing experience, going from a severe stutterer to 99 percent fluent . It was a thrill to stop at a drive up and order an icecream cone without having my wife do the talking. Yes it is worth trying. Bill

Roley · 01-30-2008, 06:20 PM

I'm still thinking about one. The rehab center at one of our hospitals sells them. They require several hours of testing before "prescribing" one, and I haven't taken the time to do that. I believe they said Medicare wouldn't cover the costs. What do you know about that?

Right now, I'm focusing on medications which should help both my very uptight nature and my stuttering.

Thanks.

Roley

EddieO · 01-30-2008, 09:15 PM

How much does it cost? I didn't think much about because I heard insurance doesn't cover it. Is that right?
Eddie

tb1223 · 01-30-2008, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddieO

How much does it cost? I didn't think much about because I heard insurance doesn't cover it. Is that right?
Eddie

I believe it costs upwards of $4000. Not sure about insurance though.

happy7117 · 01-31-2008, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tb1223

I believe it costs upwards of $4000. Not sure about insurance though.

That price makes me sick to my stomach. Pardon my language, but the sons of bitches who charge so much for those devices for those who are realy needing a device like me should be shot.

If they knew of are suffering, they would offer those devices at a much lower price...

tb1223 · 01-31-2008, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tb1223

I believe it costs upwards of $4000. Not sure about insurance though.

Link: http://www.speecheasy.com/fluency_device_models.html

The best one is almost $5000.

Bill Hargis · 01-31-2008, 02:03 PM

Yes it does cost close to 5000, but well worth it. I don't think any insurance will cover it either. Most people don't consider stuttering a handicap. If y'all would join me in writing our politicians, let them know that we vote, we could force insurance cos. to cover the device. It will take legislation. The provider I purchased my device from was a stutterer and wore the se himself. He knew exactly what I had gone through.

Big Jay · 02-02-2008, 02:07 AM

Speech easy is $4500 I purchased one and it did absolutely nothing. It does nothing for all the anxiety you feel and all the mental stuff that runs through your mind when you try to speak. The only thing you hear in your ear is you trying to talk

Bill Hargis · 02-02-2008, 02:41 PM

I guess it doesn't work for everyone. It sure worked for me I was a very severe stutterer, silent and audible blocks and the whole bit. My provider was also a stutterer and he wore the device. He was able to instruct me on it's use. It is really nice to be 99 percent fluent.

happy7117 · 02-02-2008, 09:32 PM

It's great to hear all the success stories and unsucsessfull stories using these different kind of "helper" aids for stuttering as I call them.

I always believed that one size does not fit all when it comes to stuttering aids or devices.

In other words, one device does not work for every and all stutterers.

What device works for one does not work for another.

Different devices for different stutterers.

Alot of trial and error in using the devices for finding the right device for the right stutterer.

All of us stutterers have many different kinds of stuttererings, and all kinds of symptoms that certain devices will not help.

A certain device may not work for certain stutterings that some may have.

I learned this through trying the Fluency Master that at that time i tried it, I DID NOT HAVE THE KIND OF STUTTERINGS AND SYMPTOMS that the Fluency Master worked to help.

But I tried the Fluency Master back in Jan of 1999, and it is Feb 2008, 9 years and one month after I tried that thing.

Since those 9 years, my stuttering has gotten way different with different kind of stuttering symptoms that are far different from when I tried the Fluency Master.

If I had the kind of stuttering I currently have NOW and tried the Fluency Master at this time instead of back then when I did not have the symptoms to warrant it's positive effects, it would work in a heartbeat.

In other words, I wish I had not tried the FM then when I did not have the right symptoms for it to help.

Since my stuttering has gotten far different with different symptoms that the fluency master is supposed to relieve and help, trying the FM at this time would do me alot of good.

And my Father said the FM did not help me then because I did not have the kind of stuttering then that would have made it effective for me.

But since my stuttering has changed so much since back then when I tried it, and now that I have the right symptoms for it to help, he still says NO because he believes in the fact that if something fails the first time, it never gets tried again at a different time because of different symptoms.

Let me say this: Have an idea of what kind of stuttering characteristics you have before you try these devices.

If the presence of loud background noise distracts you from hearing your own voice in your left earfrom while you talk which it does for me NOW, go for the fluency master.

If you cannot already hear your own voice in your ear when you talk with lots of environmental background noise, try the FM

Back then when I tried the FM, there was no environmental background noise to interfere with me trying to hear my own voice in my left ear.

When I speak, I cannot hear my own voice in my left ear, and environmental background noise acts as my voice when I am not talking. Those are the kind of symptome the FM helps.

Those are the symptoms that I did not have when I tried the FM back then but have now that the FM will help.

If everytime you speak you can hear what you are saying in your left ear, but background noise is not making you distracted from hearing yourself speak, go for the Speecheasy.

Speaking in the presence of loud background noise heard in your left ear when you speak- when you cannot hear your own voice in your left ear is what the FM accomplishes to help.

Take away loud environmental background noise from the outside world, and replace the loud background noise with the sound of your voice talking in your left ear, and that's the symptoms the SE can help.

Adrian · 02-06-2008, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Fingers

I've used both the Speecheasy & the Voiceamp.

Both did nothing for me. And the people who deal with the devices know nothing about stammering either.
I wouldn't trust the American tv shows were it shows people trying the Speecheasy as they all of a sudden speak
perfectly!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/new...334880&bbcws=2

Good advice about the TV shows. Some of these programs make me sick. They pop the thing in someone's ear and poof the stutterer has fluent speech. No follow up or discussion of the long term benefits. I have heard several people report the effect wears off.

Roley · 02-06-2008, 01:13 PM

"Spontaneous Fluency" I think it's called. You're fluent with pretty much any "therapy" but the fluency fades away pretty quickly.

01-09-2008, 01:52 PM	#1
Roley Stuttering Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 153	Does the SpeechEasy really work? I've heard of this device and have looked at their internet site. Wearing a hearing-aid type device doesn't bother me at all. I'm almost 60 and need a hearing aid anyway! What are your experiences? What have you heard about the device? Please let me know. Thanks. Roley

01-30-2008, 03:11 PM	#4
Bill Hargis Stuttering Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakeside, Oregon Posts: 176	Yes, the speecheasy worked for me I Didn't hear of the speecheasy until I was 62 and retired, I tried a dummy model that the provider had and immediately ordered one. I was a life changing experience, going from a severe stutterer to 99 percent fluent . It was a thrill to stop at a drive up and order an icecream cone without having my wife do the talking. Yes it is worth trying. Bill

01-30-2008, 06:20 PM	#5
Roley Stuttering Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 153	Thanks for the Feedback. I'm still thinking about one. The rehab center at one of our hospitals sells them. They require several hours of testing before "prescribing" one, and I haven't taken the time to do that. I believe they said Medicare wouldn't cover the costs. What do you know about that? Right now, I'm focusing on medications which should help both my very uptight nature and my stuttering. Thanks. Roley

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Stuttering like crazy lately, especially at work!!!	spanglishfly	Stuttering Forum	11	08-15-2007 01:24 PM
Something i tried at work today	marky7890	Stuttering Forum	4	07-28-2006 06:15 PM
CCure through self analysis? (work in progress)	Perad	Stuttering Forum	6	02-02-2006 06:49 PM
Industrial Society Destroys Mind and Environment	sushil	General Chat	1	09-21-2005 10:29 AM
Self-doubt and hope for stutterers at work	Stuttering	Stuttering Forum	2	11-09-2004 03:55 PM

01-10-2008, 04:23 PM	#2
NoOne Stuttering Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 15	I have never used SpeechEasy before. But I'm familiar with the principle the device works on. That is, delayed auditory feedback (DAF). Its like an extra little voice inside your head that repeats everything you say. It basically makes you less self conscience of your speech. It will be sort of like you talking to yourself or in a noisy environment. Either of these situations increases fluency in most stutterers. Clinical studies have shown that DAF can reduce stuttering significantly. A delay of about 80-100 ms should be good. See here for more details: http://www.casafuturatech.com/Books/...ures/DAF.shtml Before you purchase the device. You can get a software which you install on your computer that allows to test the DAF principle. So far I've tested the DAF principle with axSoft Speech corrector: http://www.speechcorrector.com/ Just download the unregistered version and give it a whirl. You'll obviously need a mic.

01-11-2008, 02:17 PM	#3
Mr Fingers Stuttering Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: London Posts: 92	I've used both the Speecheasy & the Voiceamp. Both did nothing for me. And the people who deal with the devices know nothing about stammering either. I wouldn't trust the American tv shows were it shows people trying the Speecheasy as they all of a sudden speak perfectly! http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/new...334880&bbcws=2

01-30-2008, 09:15 PM	#6
EddieO Stuttering Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: a Posts: 80	How much does it cost? I didn't think much about because I heard insurance doesn't cover it. Is that right? Eddie

01-31-2008, 02:03 PM	#10
Bill Hargis Stuttering Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakeside, Oregon Posts: 176	Yes it does cost close to 5000, but well worth it. I don't think any insurance will cover it either. Most people don't consider stuttering a handicap. If y'all would join me in writing our politicians, let them know that we vote, we could force insurance cos. to cover the device. It will take legislation. The provider I purchased my device from was a stutterer and wore the se himself. He knew exactly what I had gone through.

02-02-2008, 02:07 AM	#11
Big Jay Stuttering Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: philadelphia Posts: 6	Speech easy is $4500 I purchased one and it did absolutely nothing. It does nothing for all the anxiety you feel and all the mental stuff that runs through your mind when you try to speak. The only thing you hear in your ear is you trying to talk

02-02-2008, 02:41 PM	#12
Bill Hargis Stuttering Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakeside, Oregon Posts: 176	I guess it doesn't work for everyone. It sure worked for me I was a very severe stutterer, silent and audible blocks and the whole bit. My provider was also a stutterer and he wore the device. He was able to instruct me on it's use. It is really nice to be 99 percent fluent.

02-02-2008, 09:32 PM	#13
happy7117 Stuttering Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: NY Posts: 2,357	It's great to hear all the success stories and unsucsessfull stories using these different kind of "helper" aids for stuttering as I call them. I always believed that one size does not fit all when it comes to stuttering aids or devices. In other words, one device does not work for every and all stutterers. What device works for one does not work for another. Different devices for different stutterers. Alot of trial and error in using the devices for finding the right device for the right stutterer. All of us stutterers have many different kinds of stuttererings, and all kinds of symptoms that certain devices will not help. A certain device may not work for certain stutterings that some may have. I learned this through trying the Fluency Master that at that time i tried it, I DID NOT HAVE THE KIND OF STUTTERINGS AND SYMPTOMS that the Fluency Master worked to help. But I tried the Fluency Master back in Jan of 1999, and it is Feb 2008, 9 years and one month after I tried that thing. Since those 9 years, my stuttering has gotten way different with different kind of stuttering symptoms that are far different from when I tried the Fluency Master. If I had the kind of stuttering I currently have NOW and tried the Fluency Master at this time instead of back then when I did not have the symptoms to warrant it's positive effects, it would work in a heartbeat. In other words, I wish I had not tried the FM then when I did not have the right symptoms for it to help. Since my stuttering has gotten far different with different symptoms that the fluency master is supposed to relieve and help, trying the FM at this time would do me alot of good. And my Father said the FM did not help me then because I did not have the kind of stuttering then that would have made it effective for me. But since my stuttering has changed so much since back then when I tried it, and now that I have the right symptoms for it to help, he still says NO because he believes in the fact that if something fails the first time, it never gets tried again at a different time because of different symptoms. Let me say this: Have an idea of what kind of stuttering characteristics you have before you try these devices. If the presence of loud background noise distracts you from hearing your own voice in your left earfrom while you talk which it does for me NOW, go for the fluency master. If you cannot already hear your own voice in your ear when you talk with lots of environmental background noise, try the FM Back then when I tried the FM, there was no environmental background noise to interfere with me trying to hear my own voice in my left ear. When I speak, I cannot hear my own voice in my left ear, and environmental background noise acts as my voice when I am not talking. Those are the kind of symptome the FM helps. Those are the symptoms that I did not have when I tried the FM back then but have now that the FM will help. If everytime you speak you can hear what you are saying in your left ear, but background noise is not making you distracted from hearing yourself speak, go for the Speecheasy. Speaking in the presence of loud background noise heard in your left ear when you speak- when you cannot hear your own voice in your left ear is what the FM accomplishes to help. Take away loud environmental background noise from the outside world, and replace the loud background noise with the sound of your voice talking in your left ear, and that's the symptoms the SE can help.

02-06-2008, 01:13 PM	#15
Roley Stuttering Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 153	"Spontaneous Fluency" I think it's called. You're fluent with pretty much any "therapy" but the fluency fades away pretty quickly.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)