Patent ID: 9711063
Date: 2017-07-18
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61F,A63B,G09B

Claim:
1. A method of teaching a person to pronounce a particular sound, which comprises: providing at least one sound training device comprising a handle, a node support and one or more nodes for indicating proper positioning of the person's tongue for accurate pronunciation of the particular sound, with the node support configured and dimensioned (a) to provide tactile feedback to the person at its respective node location(s) on the node support with the feedback signaling proper positioning of the tongue for accurate pronunciation of the particular sound, and (b) to limit intrusiveness in the person's mouth while providing sufficient strength to support the one or more nodes; providing at least one of the one or more nodes with a sensor mounted thereon, with the sensor positioned and dimensioned for sensing lingual contact of the person's tongue with or near the node, providing a signal based such contact, and transmitting the signal to a computer; and providing the device with registration features for positioning the device in an appropriate location in the person's oral cavity such that the person's tongue is able to freely navigate to contact the one or more nodes and be positioned for making the particular sound with the location being dependent on the particular sound to made, wherein the method provides a first device comprising a cylindrical node configured to be positioned in a medial location inferior to the person's palate to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the /r/ sound; wherein, when the tongue is so positioned, the sound training device provides tactile feedback to the person to assist in proper and accurate pronunciation of the particular sound, and wherein the computer includes software that monitors contact of the tongue with the sensor(s) that are mounted on and are no larger than the node(s) and provides interactive feedback including one or more of: game style positive reinforcement based on progress, data collection or statistical analysis; providing one or more additional devices selected from a group of devices including: a second device comprising a node configured to be positioned in a location on the person's alveolar ridge to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the /l/, /t/, or /d/ sound; a third device comprising a pair of nodes configured to be positioned in lateral posterior locations on either side of the person's palate to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the /k/ or /g/ sound; a fourth device comprising a pair of nodes configured to be positioned in lateral anterior locations on either side of the person's palate to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the l) l sound; a fifth device comprising a node configured to be positioned in an anterior location inferior to the person's palate to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the /s/, /z/, ILI (sh), or /Z/ (Qr) sounds; and a sixth device comprising a node configured to be positioned in an anterior location on the person's palate to provide tactile feedback for the proper tongue position corresponding to the lx LI (ch) or /8Z/ (j) sound, wherein the devices are provided in a kit that includes a common handle that can be used for separately and sequentially holding each device, and wherein each handle includes a node support and an alignment guide located thereon for proper positioning of the device on the person's palate.