JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Speech and language therapy (SALT) services in the United Kingdom face persistent pressures, including long waiting lists, workforce shortages, and limited capacity for early intervention. These constraints reduce opportunities for timely, high frequency practice; an essential component of effective support for speech sound difficulties. Digital and AI-enabled interventions are increasingly investigated as potential mechanisms to enhance access, support early practice, and complement existing service pathways. This pilot study evaluated VoxiPlay, an AI-enabled, gamified speech-practice tool, to explore its feasibility, usability, acceptability, and perceived therapeutic value in real-world settings.

Objective:

To examine multi-stakeholder experiences - therapists, parents, and teachers - of using VoxiPlay with children aged 4-9 and to assess its potential role within existing health and education pathways.

Methods:

A mixed-methods exploratory design was used. Children were supported to engage with the tool for up to 15 minutes daily over approximately four weeks. Semi-structured interviews with a subset of stakeholders - 5 therapists, 8 parents, and 2 teachers - were complemented by surveys and observational feedback. Data were analysed thematically with descriptive summaries to contextualise findings. Ethical procedures included informed consent, anonymisation, and GDPR-compliant data handling.

Results:

VoxiPlay was perceived as engaging and easy for children to use independently. Stakeholders reported improvements in speech clarity, confidence, and consistency of practice. Therapists highlighted potential value for pre-assessment screening, targeted practice planning, and remote monitoring. Parents and teachers described improved alignment of support across home and school. Identified limitations included restricted suitability for complex needs and requests for expanded content and device compatibility.

Conclusions:

The findings indicate that VoxiPlay is a feasible and acceptable digital speech-practice intervention for children with mild to moderate speech sound difficulties. Its use may help support early practice, enhance caregiver-school-therapist collaboration, and potentially alleviate pressures on SALT services. Larger, controlled studies incorporating validated clinical outcomes are needed to determine effectiveness and inform broader implementation. Clinical Trial: Not applicable. This study was a non-clinical service-level pilot and was not a registered clinical trial.