Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

For Those Who Stutter/Treat Social Anxiety

Gareth Walkom

My name is Gareth and I have a stutter

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“Stammering and stuttering have the same

meaning – it is a speech disorder in which

the person repeats or prolongs words,

syllables or phrases. The person with a

stutter (or stammer) may also stop during

speech and make no sound for certain

syllables.” - (Written and Nordqvist, C., 2015 )

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BSc Digital Media Technology - NTU

“An artificial environment which is experienced through sensory stimuli (as sights and sounds) provided by a computer an in which one’s actions partially determine what happens in the environment” – (Merriam-Webster, 2015)

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Virtual Reality

• Where the PWS (Person Who

Stutters) is exposed to a real life situation they would usually struggle with.

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Real Life Exposure Therapy

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET)

• Bravemind

• Virtual Reality Medical Centre

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Current VRET Research

• Targets PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

• Designed using environments from Afghan and Iraqi City desert roads, as well as scenarios relevant to combat medics

• Uses VR headset, directional 3D audio, vibrations and smells

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Bravemind

• Treats patients with anxiety disorders, trains military and civilian populations population and enhances various educational programs

• Pain Management – uses VR headset, individual can roam around the environment to distract them from pain

• PTSD – uses war environments within the VR headset, where the individual is analysed through their heart rate, respiration, skin conductance, temperature, electroencephalogram (EEG) and electro cardiogram (ECG)

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Virtual Reality Medical Centre

Creation of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET)

• Uses a Samsung phone to output the VR display to the PWS

• Do not need a PC to use

• Lightweight, easy to transport

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Samsung Gear VR

Measures the participant’s body temperature and electrodermal activity. Electrodermal activity refers to electrical changes measured at the surface of the skin that arise when the skin receives innervating signals from the brain. (Affectiva, 2014).

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Affectiva Q Sensor

• Interface

• Lecture Theatre

• Chill Session

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Scenes

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ID Age Range Comments Related to Speech

1 18-24 Rarely stutters around others. Only really stammers around family.

2 25-34 Can force out words, tightness of lips when in moment of stutter, stiffness in body and uses the word ‘plus’ to bounce into a word.

3 35-44 Does not stutter often, manages posture well to relax while speaking.

4 45-54 Rarely stuttered, seems calm when talking and clenches hand.

5 35-44 Rarely stutters, stiff body, has hands in back pockets when talking and pulls down jumper when about to stutter.

6 45-54 Only stuttered occasionally, struggled with speech when ran out of breath

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Participants

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• Isolated room • Each session is about 10 mins long • Affectiva Q Sensor • 5 mins spent within the VRET • Topic e.g. favourite holiday • PWS will give talk to the animated audience on topic • Anxiety Scale (1-5) • Chill Session • Post VRET Question Sheet

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VRET Sessions

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Anxiety Scale

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• Enclosed field of view

• Monitoring

• Feedback

• Stopped at any time

• Easy to transport

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Benefits

Disadvantage: Therapist cannot see PWS’s eyes while headset is being worn

This is just the beginning..

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Feedback System

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Eye Tracking VR

Thank you

Any questions?

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References Written and Nordqvist, C., 2015. Stuttering: Causes, diagnosis and treatments. [Online] Available at: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/10608.php [Accessed 18 11 2015].

Merriam-Webster, 2015. Definition of Virtual Reality. [Online] Available at: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/virtual%20reality [Accessed 19 4 2016].

Affectiva, 2014. What is Electrodermal activity (EDA)?. [Online] Available at: http://qsensor-support.affectiva.com/customer/en/portal/articles/1539257-what-is-electrodermal-activity-eda- [Accessed 12 04 2016].