Electronic Speech Treatment Device Providing Altered Auditory Feedback and Biofeedback

A system to treat stuttering, comprising:

• biofeedback means for monitoring aspects of a user's speech;
• and
• means for providing altered auditory feedback to a user;
• wherein one or more parameters of said altered auditory feedback are controlled by said biofeedback means based on said monitored speech aspects, with changes in said one or more altered auditory feedback parameters made in a manner selected from the group of smoothly and non-discontinuously.

A system for altering the emotional state of a person who is speaking, comprising:

• a transducer for converting a user's voice into an audio signal;
• a self-contained processor for altering said audio signal;
• and
• at least one transducer for converting said altered audio signal into an altered voice and providing said altered voice to the user to enable the user to hear his or her altered voice;
• wherein said processor is operative to alter said audio signal in a manner that when said altered voice is provided to the user, the user hears his or her voice altered in one or more ways that induce an emotional state selected by the user.

A method to treat stuttering, comprising the steps of:

• detecting a user's phonation;
• measuring interval durations of said phonation;
• informing the user of said durations;
• providing altered auditory feedback to the user;
• and
• using said durations of said intervals to control parameters of said altered auditory feedback.