Eight-year-old Colette Fougere has made notable progress in learning to pronounce the ‘r’ sound after a few weeks of therapy at Montclair State University’s Speech-Language Pathology Clinic. Working with graduate student researcher Alexis Gallagher and using visual-acoustic biofeedback technology created by Elaine Hitchcock, chairperson of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Colette is addressing what professionals call “the lost ‘r,’” a common speech error among school-age children.
“Colette has made tremendous progress,” said SLP graduate student researcher Alexis Gallagher. “It can be disheartening in the beginning because they’re trying something new, and it’s not changing. Then, I think it was session four or five, suddenly, there was the ‘r’ sound. It’s thrilling.”
The software used in Colette’s sessions was designed by Hitchcock, who is recognized for her work on speech-sound disorders. Hitchcock and colleagues published research showing that biofeedback accelerates early progress with children in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research.
Before coming to Montclair State University, Colette spent nearly three years in school-based therapy in Florida without significant improvement on the ‘r’ sound—a sign of Residual Speech Sound Disorder (RSSD). Her mother, Meghan Fougere, a speech-language pathologist and 2014 Montclair SLP alumna, also attempted to help her daughter at home but did not see results.
“I kept thinking, ‘I can fix it,’ and I wasn’t fixing it. I had done my best at home with her until she realized that she didn’t want her mommy working on her speech sounds with her. She wanted me to just be mommy,” said Fougere.
After moving back to New Jersey and before seeking private therapy options, Fougere contacted former professor Hitchcock about new research involving biofeedback technology. “In just a few weeks, we started hearing a difference,” Fougere said.
Hitchcock commented: “We managed to create this pilot study for Colette to work on a sound that has long been difficult for her, but to also work on a developing aspect of our treatment program.” The research is supported by a National Institutes of Health grant aimed at improving children’s speech therapy outcomes through understanding how kids hear and produce sounds using visual biofeedback tools both online and in person. Over 100 children aged 8 to 18 have participated so far. Gallagher received a Montclair Graduate Student Research Award for advancing this pilot project.
The visual-acoustic biofeedback software gives real-time displays comparing Colette’s attempts at the ‘r’ sound with target outputs so she can both hear and see when she pronounces correctly. Biofeedback shows promise for people with RSSD who have not benefited from traditional methods like imitation or use of props since there is no single correct tongue placement for producing an ‘r.’
“We’ve had a lot of success in situations that have not been successful before with the use of visual biofeedback,” Hitchcock explained. “They’re using the biofeedback as a way to ‘see’ if they’re saying the sound correctly; we’re working around a flawed auditory feedback system to utilize the visual system.”
Early intervention is important as unresolved issues with sounds like ‘r’ may lead to social challenges such as teasing or frustration as well as academic difficulties. According to Hitchcock: “The biofeedback technology is more effective, and a faster means to an end.” Left unaddressed into adulthood these issues can affect confidence and relationships.
Montclair State University’s Speech-Language Pathology program integrates clinical training with faculty-led research projects such as this one involving innovative treatments like visual biofeedback. The university aims long-term to train clinicians—including those practicing via telehealth—to make advanced therapies accessible even in rural areas where services may be limited.
Montclair State University serves about 23,546 students including approximately 18,062 undergraduates and 4,508 graduates (official website). More than half its students are from underrepresented minority groups; it is New Jersey’s largest Hispanic-Serving Institution (official website). The campus covers 252 acres across several municipalities including Montclair (official website), offering programs focused on integrating liberal arts education with professional training (official website).
For Gallagher—who came from an acting background—the project holds personal meaning due to similar experiences within her own family: “She literally wrote the program we were doing. Why would I not take the opportunity to learn how to teach a child how to do their ‘r’s using this equipment when the author of it is standing over my shoulder?”
While Colette now produces ‘r’ sounds in syllables or words but sometimes lapses during casual conversation; she will continue working until Gallagher completes her master’s degree next spring.
Gallagher added: “I know what that feels like as a parent; it’s devastating… I want to help this child.”
