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Over 10% of children require speech and language therapy at some point, but with waiting lists exceeding 30,000 in Ireland alone, not all children can access care in a timely manner. Studies have shown that children with untreated speech-language difficulties often fall behind their peers socially and academically, and tend to have lower levels of self-confidence. Even when intervention occurs later, these difficulties are associated with challenges such as anxiety during adolescence and adulthood.
Our research revealed a critical need for a tool to support early intervention and bridge the gap for children awaiting professional services. We hypothesised that a gamified, interactive app could aid paediatric speech and language development, helping children on waiting lists make progress and prevent the social and developmental setbacks linked to untreated speech-language difficulties.
In response, we designed and developed TalkTime, a mobile app utilising gamification to engage children in evidence-based activities used in traditional speech-language therapy. TalkTime provides a modern, accessible alternative that empowers families and brings therapy strategies into the home, utilising advanced machine learning models built with Python and Tensorflow to provide custom feedback.
We built our initial prototype using MIT App Inventor, before migrating to React Native to allow for further technological development. Our product is currently at a viable stage, allowing for extensive user testing to ensure its effectiveness for children aged 3-5. We collected and analysed post-usage data from a sample group of 25 children and their families, where data has supported our approach, and our hypothesis.
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