Towards Human-Centered AI in Speech Therapy: Perspectives from a Low-Resource Setting

Towards Human-Centered AI in Speech Therapy: Perspectives from a Low-Resource Setting | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Towards Human-Centered AI in Speech Therapy: Perspectives from a Low-Resource Setting Chinmoy Deka, Abhishek Shrivastava, Rishav Kumar This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4833343/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 30 Dec, 2025 Read the published version in Universal Access in the Information Society → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background: While Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are crucial in addressing Speech Sound Disorder (SSD), a global shortage of SLPs poses significant challenges in providing speech therapy services, particularly in impoverished and rural areas. Despite the potential of AI-based automated speech therapy tools, concerns such as job displacement, algorithmic bias, and privacy issues persist. Purpose: This study adopted a Human-Centered AI (HCAI) approach to understand the needs and perspectives of SLPs, aiming to inform the development of a Human-Centered AI-based Speech Therapy Tool (HCAI-STT) for children with SSD. Methods: A qualitative study using deductive reflexive thematic analysis with MAXQDA software was conducted to explore the needs and perspectives of SLPs. Results: The domain understanding theme highlighted the complexity of functional SSD, emphasizing unknown etiology, parental concerns, and the developmental nature of speech acquisition. Current practices involve using digital tools under supervision and adhering to therapy guidelines. Key challenges included accessibility issues, socio-economic constraints, and the absence of a standardized Assamese Photo Articulation Test (PAT). Future directions highlighted the need for technology-based interventions, culturally relevant audio-visual stimuli, mobile-based solutions, and affordable tools. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the necessity for a culturally tailored, technologically advanced approach to speech therapy. Recommendations include integrating Assamese PAT, culturally relevant audio-visual stimuli, AI-based diagnostic and feedback tools, and home-based therapy with supervision. These insights will guide the development of the HCAI-STT, enhancing AI integration in speech therapy and improving quality and accessibility. Future research will engage additional stakeholders and develop and evaluate the tool’s usability, efficacy, and effectiveness. Human-Centered AI AI-based Speech Therapy Tool AI in Speech Therapy Speech Sound Disorder Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 30 Dec, 2025 Read the published version in Universal Access in the Information Society → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4833343","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":334099767,"identity":"1a863251-9a8e-4d77-8117-12c0b30433a8","order_by":0,"name":"Chinmoy Deka","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1151-5395","institution":"Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Chinmoy","middleName":"","lastName":"Deka","suffix":""},{"id":334099768,"identity":"744650ca-a837-4aa4-b22d-20a06b7e4fde","order_by":1,"name":"Abhishek Shrivastava","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAArElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDACCQaGAx8MJKA8AyK1HJxhICFBmhZmHjBFLJCf3fvwsE2BRZ28A/PDDwwFdwhrMbhz3OBwDtBhhgfYjCUYDJ4RoUUijQGipYHBDMg9TITDZgC1WIC1sH8jTgvDDaAWoF0S8gw8RNpiANRysMdAQnIDM0+xRAKRDmP+8ONPHb98e/vGDx/+EOMwuHUgxQkkaABa10CS8lEwCkbBKBhJAADHDjDVc3tpZAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7019-0709","institution":"Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Abhishek","middleName":"","lastName":"Shrivastava","suffix":""},{"id":334099769,"identity":"f1b79587-8641-409c-975b-40b32c2ceef5","order_by":2,"name":"Rishav Kumar","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"HCLTech, Bengaluru","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Rishav","middleName":"","lastName":"Kumar","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-07-31 07:41:18","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":true,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":true,"humanSubjectConsent":true,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4833343/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4833343/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-025-01288-2","type":"published","date":"2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":101146308,"identity":"149d14cb-2c07-4566-badb-24e09dc12de6","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-26 14:59:46","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":773179,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"TowardsHCAIinSpeechTherapy1.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4833343/v1_covered_315e9ba0-500d-489c-99f1-a3ee7a499d1c.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eTowards Human-Centered AI in Speech Therapy: Perspectives from a Low-Resource Setting\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Human-Centered AI, AI-based Speech Therapy Tool, AI in Speech Therapy, Speech Sound Disorder","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4833343/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4833343/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground:\u003c/strong\u003e While Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are crucial in addressing Speech Sound Disorder (SSD), a global shortage of SLPs poses significant challenges in providing speech therapy services, particularly in impoverished and rural areas. Despite the potential of AI-based automated speech therapy tools, concerns such as job displacement, algorithmic bias, and privacy issues persist.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePurpose:\u003c/strong\u003e This study adopted a Human-Centered AI (HCAI) approach to understand the needs and perspectives of SLPs, aiming to inform the development of a Human-Centered AI-based Speech Therapy Tool (HCAI-STT) for children with SSD.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethods:\u003c/strong\u003e A qualitative study using deductive reflexive thematic analysis with MAXQDA software was conducted to explore the needs and perspectives of SLPs.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResults:\u003c/strong\u003e The domain understanding theme highlighted the complexity of functional SSD, emphasizing unknown etiology, parental concerns, and the developmental nature of speech acquisition. Current practices involve using digital tools under supervision and adhering to therapy guidelines. Key challenges included accessibility issues, socio-economic constraints, and the absence of a standardized Assamese Photo Articulation Test (PAT). Future directions highlighted the need for technology-based interventions, culturally relevant audio-visual stimuli, mobile-based solutions, and affordable tools.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusion:\u003c/strong\u003e The findings emphasize the necessity for a culturally tailored, technologically advanced approach to speech therapy. Recommendations include integrating Assamese PAT, culturally relevant audio-visual stimuli, AI-based diagnostic and feedback tools, and home-based therapy with supervision. These insights will guide the development of the HCAI-STT, enhancing AI integration in speech therapy and improving quality and accessibility. 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