It is necessary to identify the demand level of consumers and recognize the support target priority based on it in order to provide efficient services with a limited budget. This study provided baseline data for spreading the use of consumeroriented voucher service by exploring factors associated with the demand of the Voucher Program for Speech Language Therapy for preschool children. This study were analyzed 212 guardians living with children (≤5 years old) who resided in Seoul from Aug 11 to Oct 9, 2015. The outcome variable was defined as the demand (i.e., required and not required) of the Voucher Program for Speech Language Therapy. The results of the developed prediction model were compared with the results of a decision tree based on classification and regression tree (CART). The prediction performance of the developed model was evaluated using a confusion matrix. Among the 212 subjects, 112 (52.8%) responded that the Voucher Program for Speech Language Therapy was necessary. The weighted random forest-based model predicted five variables (i.e., whether preschooler caregiving services were used or not, economic activity after childbirth, the awareness of Seoul's welfare counselor operation, mean monthly living expenses, and whether welfare related information was obtained) as the variables associated with the demand of the Voucher Program for Speech Language Therapy and the accuracy was 72.1%. It is needed to develop systematic policies to expand consumer-oriented language therapy services based on the developed prediction model for the Voucher Program for Speech Language Therapy.

Apraxia of speech (AOS) is a motor speech disorder characterized by disturbed spatial and temporal parameters of movement. Research on motor learning suggests that augmented feedback may provide a beneficial effect for training movement. This study examined the effects of the presence and frequency of online augmented visual kinematic feedback (AVKF) and clinician-provided perceptual feedback on speech accuracy in 2 adults with acquired AOS. Within a single-subject multiple-baseline design, AVKF was provided using electromagnetic midsagittal articulography (EMA) in 2 feedback conditions (50 or 100%). Articulator placement was specified for speech motor targets (SMTs). Treated and baselined SMTs were in the initial or final position of single-syllable words, in varying consonant-vowel or vowel-consonant contexts. SMTs were selected based on each participant’s pre-assessed erred productions. Productions were digitally recorded and online perceptual judgments of accuracy (including segment and intersegment distortions) were made. Inter- and intra-judge reliability for perceptual accuracy was high. Results measured by visual inspection and effect size revealed positive acquisition and generalization effects for both participants. Generalization occurred across vowel contexts and to untreated probes. Results of the frequency manipulation were confounded by presentation order. Maintenance of learned and generalized effects were demonstrated for 1 participant. These data provide support for the role of augmented feedback in treating speech movements that result in perceptually accurate speech production. Future investigations will explore the independent contributions of each feedback type (i.e. kinematic and perceptual) in producing efficient and effective training of SMTs in persons with AOS.

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