The Smalltalk anti-stuttering device immediately reduces stuttering, while training you to no longer need the device. It's the world's smallest DAF/FAF anti-stuttering device, and now includes Bluetooth wireless technology.
Altered Auditory Feedback Features
The SmallTalk provides two types of altered auditory feedback.
Delayed auditory feedback (DAF) immediately reduces stuttering about 70% at normal speaking rates without training, mental effort, or abnormal-sounding or abnormally slow speech. 55% carryover fluency after removing the device, without speech therapy. With speech therapy, DAF can induce a slower speaking rate with stretched vowels to make even severe stutterers nearly 100% fluent.
Frequency-shifted auditory feedback (FAF) immediately reduces stuttering about 70% at normal speaking rates. Only Casa Futura Technologies stuttering treatment devices have octave-scale FAF downshifting (pitch shifting) to induce vocal fold relaxation. The SmallTalk has six FAF settings: -1.2 octaves, -0.8 octaves, -0.4 octaves, +0.4 octaves, +0.6 octaves, and +0.8 octaves. The Parkinson's SmallTalk model has five FAF settings: +0.4 octaves, +0.6 octaves, +0.8 octaves, +1.0 octaves, and +1.2 octaves.
Combining DAF and FAF increases effectiveness to 75-80%.
Headsets and Earsets
The SmallTalk works with all standard headphones and microphones. Three headsets and earsets are included:
A Sennheiser PC131 full-size headset gives you the best sound quality and maximizes the SmallTalk's effectiveness. By using the full-size headset on telephone calls, in speech therapy, and in stressful conversations such as public speaking, you'll maximize carryover fluency and not need to use the device for lower-stress conversations. The full-size headset will also bring you support from listeners. When you show the full-size headset to listeners and say that you're using an anti-stuttering device, listeners will want to try the device to hear what it sounds like. Then they'll want to talk to you about stuttering and you'll discover that there's no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed about your speech.
A Plantronics Voyager Pro Bluetooth wireless cellphone earset is included with a Jabra A210 Bluetooth adapter. Any Bluetooth wireless cellphone earset can be used with the SmallTalk; the Plantronics Voyager Pro has the best sound and best comfort we've found for wireless earset.
A Plantronics MX100S binaural (two ear) wired iPod-style earset is included. These sound good, are comfortable, and are simple and easy to use. Any other standard wired earset can be used.
The SmallTalk is the only anti-stuttering device that works in noisy environments, such as classrooms or restaurants. The Sennheiser PC131 headset has a noise-canceling microphone to eliminate noise at the source. Electronic circuits in the SmallTalk filter high-frequency noise above your vocal range. Moderate (-0.4 octave) FAF effectively reduces stuttering yet is acoustically transparent if the device picks up background noise. The SmallTalk has a push-to-talk button that completely eliminates background noise anywhere. The push-to-talk feature is ideal for a student in a classroom who is mostly listening to the teacher and only is called on to talk occasionally, or if you go out to dinner with friends and spend more time listening than talking. An optional throat microphone eliminates background noise even in extreme conditions.
Telephone Interface
The SmallTalk plugs into telephones. You hear your voice and the caller's voice in both ears; the caller hears your normal voice. Leave your SmallTalk plugged into your telephone and practice speech therapy on every call. About fifteen states provide Casa Futura Technologies anti-stuttering devices free to qualified residents who stutter.
Technical Specifications
DAF range 30 milliseconds to 200 milliseconds. User-adjustable.
Binaural (two ear) or monaural (one ear) sound. Binaural sound is 25% more effective than monaural sound and is recommended for severe stutterers; mild stutterers may be able to use monaural sound.
35-7500 Hz frequency range clearly reproduces all vocal frequencies of adults and children.
Rechargeable battery lasts about 16 hours. Charges like a cellphone.
Gray case, with belt clip. For the fashion conscious, special order a SmallTalk in one of four translucent colors: red, blue, green, or gray. The translucent cases don't have belt clips.
Two 3.5mm jacks for any standard microphone and headphones. One 2.5mm jack for any standard cellphone earset.
3" x 2.25" x 0.75" (7.5 x 6 x 1.75 cm). About the size of an iPod Mini.
Tehcnical and effectiveness comparison of the two devices.
"The PFS is a tremendous adjunct to speech therapy and I would recommend it to anyone who wishes to improve their fluency."
"I ordered a DAF machine and saw wonderful results for my students. I used the device to establish fluency and then introduced fluency shaping techniques. I have three elementary students who have "graduated" from the speech therapy program because they no longer stutter! I whole heartedly endorse your products."
"When Jonathan came home on Friday I had him put on the DAF and tell me about his day. IT WAS AMAZING! He did not stutter at all. I have to tell you, I broke down and cried. It was such a joy to hear him talk and not fight to get his words out."
"The SmallTalk really did a miracle job on my stutter, the result was amazing! I can feel it, it teaches me to relax and more calm, this device gives me self confidence! I can talk now to people and answer phones without any fear at all, also last night I attended a party, I was surprised that I can talk already even without using the device."
"I think you should get a Nobel Prize for your work in the SmallTalk. It is a boon to folks like myself who can't say two words without the device, and I thank you with all my heart for your caring."
"In my stuttering group there came a new member with very bad stuttering. When he said his name it took about three minutes with very big stretches in all his body. With the School DAF he almost at once could speak [slowly] with no problem. That is what I every time find with the DAF."
"While wearing the DAF device, the client engaged in conversation with his peer workers, peers eating lunch, and with faculty and staff. There were no disfluencies noted during this observation. Without the use of the DAF device, the client is approximately 80% fluent."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you. It was wonderful to hear Mr. Jonsson's voice on the phone just now, so much immediate improvement although not perfect. He will now start practicing vigorously every day. At this moment he is enjoying conversation with his wife and children. :)"
"I'm full of joy because I tried the device and it worked perfectly. My friends were surprised because I spoke normaly as I never stuttered. You have given me another chance in my life. GOD bless you and your family. Thank you very much."
"I am a speech therapist in the public school system. I have been using the School DAF and had two students graduated from the speech therapy program who now have fluency within normal limits. Thank you for making a great product that is making a difference in the lives of children who stutter.
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"Thank you very much!! The DAF has completely changed my student's life!"
"I have explained the system to a lot of people already including quite a few clients and they are amazed. I am not 100% fluent at all, but even 50% represents a huge improvement. I feel less stressed when in a meeting and can talk much easier. I am experiencing relaxed speech for the first time in my life.
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"The customer who is currently using the DAF says that the unit has profoundly changed his life! (The guy was in tears over the phone when he told me this.)"
"I have been using the device and it has been working great. I am already noticing a dramatic carry over effect."
"The customer who is currently using the DAF with the wires says that the unit has profoundly changed his life! (The guy was in tears over the phone when he told me this.)"
"I no longer have to stutter, I can use the system. I now have choices."
"Every once in a while I will find myself fighting it, trying to over power it by stuttering; but the system takes over and speech flows."
"I am no longer preoccupied with trying not to stutter. What needs to be done becomes the priority rather than not stuttering. "
"My company purchased the Desktop Fluency System last year for me. I have had great success with it. My fluency greatly increased and I also overcame the fears of making and taking business calls. I have also noticed a carry over effect which I believe is partly due to good speech experiences during my day at work."
"Friends who I've not seen in a long time almost always comment on my improved speech. More to the point, I speak more, and in all situations. I always battled my fear of speech. To me, avoiding speech is worse than the actual spasms of stuttering."
"I wanted to relay to you that the Pocket Fluency System has been working well. I have had one Superior Court judge compliment me on my argument, after using your device. It really is a great product, and feel free to use me as a reference."
"Kurt put the headset on and was immediately fluent. I'm sure you've heard this many times before, but we can't tell you how incredulous we were. To hear Kurt fluent for the first time in a long time was quite something for all of us.
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"The PFS works great for me. As a project manager I'm on the phone a lot and on conference calls with ten or more people. The PFS helps me monitor my targets (full breath, gentle onset, etc.) much better than I can on my own. Speaking takes a lot less effort with the PFS."
"I wanted to let you know how pleased I am with the Pocket Fluency System. I gave a 40 minute presentation on some research I did this summer, and it went really well."
"I've been using it for about 3 years. It completely changed my telephone life. I now make business calls, many times a day. Before the DAF, I never made 1 business call."
"I chaired an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in front of 50 people and was totally fluent with the Pocket Fluency System. The last time I chaired an AA meeting, last Saturday night, I must have stuttered 150 times. I think some of the blocks lasted 4 seconds. Tonight was beyond description!!!! It works!!!!"
"The School DAF device has been very instrumental in fostering fluency with my students. It has been effective with pre-schoolers as well as high schoolers."
"I won a poetry contest. I am a poet and was afraid to read my poetry in public because of my stutter. This was my very first poetry reading. My reading was flawless, and my attention was NOT riveted on my speech. My mind didn't scan ahead, looking for upcoming blocks. I was very relaxed about my speech, having practiced with the DAF at home."
"The improvement in my speech was immediate. With the device I speak fluently most of the time, the device enables me to slow my speech, control my breath, it strengthens my self-confidence and inspires a relaxed feeling. I have to admit, it's a brilliant idea.
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Listeners React to Stuttering An actor who stutters asks audience members what they thought about his speech
Parkinson's Three men with Parkinson's disease and hypokinetic dysarthria, the speech disorder associated with Parkinson's, speak without and then with SmallTalk electronic speech aids.
Carryover Fluency Hillary talks about using her SmallTalk anti-stuttering device to train carryover fluency and no longer need the device.
