Published Research: IEEE Publication UCC Developed Clinical Collaboration Scenario-based speech practice
EaseTalk

Research

Research & Evidence

Published work, clinical collaboration, and the design rationale behind EaseTalk.

IEEE publication · UCC developed · Clinically informed

View IEEE Publication Our Methodology

Research Foundation

Published Research

"EaseTalk: An LLM-Driven Speech Practice Tool for Real-Life Scenarios"

Our foundational research has been published through IEEE, establishing the technical and design framework for scenario-based speech practice.

View IEEE Publication
Our Mission

Improve communication confidence and quality of life through accessible, evidence-informed practice between sessions.

Core Values
  • Authentic communication over perfect fluency
  • Connection and expression first
  • Self-advocacy and empowerment
  • Acceptance through visibility

Designed with those who matter the most:

Pure code is never enough. EaseTalk's architecture marries therapeutic rigour with lived experience at every milestone:

  • Iterative prototype testing with student clinicians and people with lived experience of speech difficulty.
  • Therapist-approved exercise catalogue aligned with evidence-based fluency-shaping principles.
  • Language-and-tone audits to ensure emotional safety and inclusivity.

"The role-play felt authentic enough to rehearse a difficult phone call without the pressure of doing it live."

— Early pilot participant

Clinical Pilot in Practice

EaseTalk has been live-demoed and tested with early adopters at the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork. Feedback sessions with both clinicians and service-users inform every update.

Setting

Clinical demo and early feedback sessions in Cork.

Focus

Practice usability, emotional safety, and progress visibility.

Status

Pilot feedback, not a completed clinical outcomes trial.

"I praise EaseTalk's ability to promote personal agency and its elegant mood-tracking features."

— Treacy Murphy, Senior Speech & Language Therapist

Understanding Individual Differences

Key Research Finding: Speech Difficulty is Highly Individual

Recent research confirms that fear responses, triggers, and therapeutic needs differ dramatically between users. This individual variability is fundamental to understanding effective treatment approaches.

Research Evidence:
  • Fear structures vary significantly between individuals
  • Triggers are highly personalized and context-dependent
  • Time pressure affects stuttering severity differently for each person
  • Therapeutic needs require individualized approaches
EaseTalk's Response:
  • Personalization layers in scenario design
  • Adaptive responses to individual patterns
  • Customizable time pressure settings
  • Individual fear structure mapping

Source: Individual variability in stuttering research (PMC8740569)

Exposure Therapy & Fear Structures

Research demonstrates that exposure therapy effectiveness depends on understanding individual fear structures and triggers. This finding directly informs EaseTalk's personalized approach:

Research Insights:
  • Fear structures must be individually mapped
  • Exposure must be tailored to personal triggers
  • Time pressure is a significant but variable factor
  • One-size-fits-all approaches are less effective
EaseTalk Implementation:
  • Individual fear assessment and mapping
  • Personalized scenario difficulty progression
  • Adjustable time pressure settings
  • Trigger-specific practice environments

Source: Exposure therapy and individual fear structures (PMC9947508)

Personalized Scenario-Based Training

Building on research showing individual variability in speech difficulty, EaseTalk's scenario-based approach incorporates personalization layers to address each user's needs, triggers, and therapeutic goals.

Our personalized scenarios adapt to individual patterns in:

  • Fear-specific situations: Job interviews, phone calls, social interactions
  • Time pressure sensitivity: Adjustable pacing and response expectations
  • Trigger environments: Customized contexts based on individual challenges
  • Comfort progression: Gradual exposure tailored to personal readiness
  • Communication goals: Aligned with individual therapeutic objectives

Design Rationale

These are research-informed design principles, not completed outcomes claims:

  • Practice Environment: Safe, judgment-free spaces for rehearsal
  • Repetition Opportunities: Multiple attempts at challenging scenarios
  • Gradual Exposure: Progressive difficulty levels
  • Feedback Mechanisms: Constructive guidance during practice
  • Confidence Building: Familiarity through repetition
  • Real-world Transfer: Application to daily situations

Scenario practice becomes more useful when it adapts to the situations, pressures, and goals that matter to each person.

— Design principle informed by individual variability research

Traditional Approaches

Conventional scenario practice often involves:

  • Standardized scenarios for all users
  • Limited personalization options
  • Fixed time pressure settings
  • One-size-fits-all therapeutic approaches
EaseTalk's Personalized Approach

Research-informed features include:

  • Individual fear structure mapping
  • Personalized trigger identification
  • Adaptive time pressure controls
  • Customized exposure progression

Our Journey at a Glance

• Born as a final-year Computer Science thesis tackling speaking anxiety in everyday life.

• Co-designed in weekly sprints with the Speech & Language Therapy Department at UCC and people with lived experience of speech difficulty.

• Research published through IEEE ("EaseTalk: An LLM-Driven Speech Practice Tool for Real-Life Scenarios").

• Founder Marco — a proud person who stutters — awarded UCC Student Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 for EaseTalk's social-impact vision.

• First real-world pilot launched at the South Infirmary, bringing EaseTalk to its first clinical users.

Academic Publication

Our paper "EaseTalk: An LLM-Driven Speech Practice Tool for Real-Life Scenarios" is available through IEEE.

View IEEE publication

Our Methodology

Collaborative Development Approach

Clinical Partnership

Weekly collaboration with speech therapists at UCC to ensure clinical validity and therapeutic alignment

User-Centered Design

Iterative testing with people who have lived experience of speech difficulty to prioritize real-world needs

Evidence-Based

Built on peer-reviewed research in speech therapy, exposure therapy, and adaptive learning

Development Process
1
Literature Review

Comprehensive analysis of existing research on stuttering, exposure therapy, and adaptive practice tools

2
Clinical Consultation

Regular feedback sessions with speech and language therapists (SLTs)

3
Prototype Testing

Iterative testing with early users to refine features and usability

4
Clinical Pilot

Real-world testing in clinical settings to validate effectiveness

Ongoing & Future Research

The areas below are planned or ongoing evaluation priorities, not completed clinical outcomes claims.

Reducing Waiting Times

Evaluating hybrid therapy models where EaseTalk supplements clinician time and shortens referral-to-treatment gaps.

Longitudinal Outcomes

3-month study tracking sustained changes in confidence, communication comfort, and quality of life measures.

Feedback Efficacy

Measuring how real-time, supportive guidance contributes to skill development and self-efficacy.