FAQ

Can parents use it with their kids?

Weve witnessed many cases where parents were able to help their children improve their speech. As Dr. Fletcher has often said, “Parents have been teaching their children to speak since they were born”. However, by working with a qualified speech professional you will greatly increase your chances of seeing excellent results.

Can the Palatometer help with tongue thrust?

No major research has been cited yet on tongue thrust and use of the Palatometer; however, clinicians have reported success in treating tongue thrust with the help of the Palatometer.   The Palatometer technology helps with one of the three goals of remediating tongue thrust - the primary goal: to help establish correct swallowing.  It's great for clients to visually see how they swallow liquids.  They get the concept better when they see where their tongue should be to trap the water and swallow.  It can be used to get baseline and periodically check clients to make sure they are maintaining correct swallow patterns.

Can you give me an example of what to expect as far as progress is concerned?

Most clients will learn how to correctly produce their problem sounds in a few weeks (depending on frequency of sessions). Clinical studies have shown that by the session 20 most clients will have reached 85-100% accuracy in spontaneous speech and will continue to improve over time without additional treatment. There are many factors that affect how rapidly clients progress: cognitive awareness, apraxia, aphasia, and more. Research and clinical studies demonstrate that clients who have been in therapy for years will make rapid progress within months.

Do I need to work with a speech therapist while working with the Palatometer?

In most cases the answer is yes. Traditional articulation therapy coupled with the Palatometer is what supports the rapid articulation remediation. However, there have been many cases where family has produced excellent results by working closely with their children.

How do I buy a Palatometer system?

Call or e-mail to receive additional information and a price quote. Contact us.

How do I clean my SmartPalate?

The easiest way to clean your SmartPalate is by first rinsing it thoroughly under tap water and then dipping it in an alcohol based mouthwash; this should be done after every use. If more thorough cleaning is needed, you can use a toothbrush to lightly scrub your SmartPalate during the rinsing process.

How long do I need to use the Palatometer before I can expect any results?

Some clients begin to show improvement during their first half hour session. Typically, clients will learn to correctly produce the problem sounds in 6-12 sessions or 3-6 weeks, assuming that two sessions are held each week.

How long does it take to get my SmartPalate?

It normally takes CompleteSpeech five business days to manufacture your SmartPalate and two days for shipping. If you have special needs, quicker turnaround times may be possible.

How long will the SmartPalate fit my mouth?

If you are an adult, your SmartPalate will fit indefinitely. If you are a child whose mouth is growing and changing, the SmartPalate will fit for the duration of the required treatment in most cases. In rare cases there are treatment interruptions, and a new impression is required in order to update the SmartPalate.

How much does it cost?

A 2 User Palatometer System includes PalateView software, 2 DataLinks, 2 SmartPalates, 2 USB cords, 1 User Manual and 1 Protective Case. All products have a 90 Day Money Back Guarantee. Bundled pricing is available. For a quote, please contact us.

How much will my SmartPalate affect my speech?

Because each SmartPalate is manufactured based on the individual's custom stone model, speech is inhibited only slightly to not at all. Most users become accustomed to their SmartPalate in 30 minutes or less.

Is it portable?

Yes. The complete system comes in its own custom protective carrying case, which is about the size of a small brief case. This makes the Palatometer system very transportable.

Is the SmartPalate comfortable?

Your SmartPalate is made from your stone model and will fit snugly in your mouth, but should not be uncomfortable to wear. Your clinician can help you make minor adjustments to your custom SmartPalate to ensure it fits properly.

Is there any taste associated with the SmartPalate?

Like most dental grade mouthware there will be little to no taste associated with your SmartPalate. A 2 User Palatometer System includes PalateView software, 2 DataLinks, 2 SmartPalates, 2 USB cords, 1 User Manual and 1 Protective Case. All products have a 90 Day Money Back Guarantee. Bundled pricing is available. For a quote, please 

What does the system consist of?

A 2 User Palatometer System includes PalateView software, 2 DataLinks, 2 SmartPalates, 2 USB cords, 1 User Manual and 1 Protective Case. All products have a 90 Day Money Back Guarantee. For a quote, please contact us.

What if it does not work for me?

All products have a 90 Day Money Back Guarantee, so if you are not completely satisfied with the system, you may return the non-custom components for a full refund.

What is a Palatometer and how does it work?

Palatometer is a visual feedback tool that will display real-time tongue-to-palate contact on a computer screen during speech production. This visual feedback system gives users the ability to see what they have never seen before and has proven to be very effective in helping people quickly overcome long term speech problems. The system consists of three components. First, is a custom-made pseudopalate (Smart Palate) that fits in the user’s mouth much like an orthodontic retainer. The SmartPalate includes 126 conductive sensors and some intricate electronics that combine all the sensor data into an easy to transfer package. Second, is a microprocessor/input/output device (DataLink) that is worn around the user’s neck and interfaces between the SmartPalate and the computer. The DataLink combines the audio from the onboard microphone with the palate data and routes this information to your computer. Third, is the computer software (PalateView) that displays on the computers screen the tongue-to-palate contacts and the audio waveform or spectrogram of the person’s speech.

Typically, a clinician and client each have their own SmartPalate in their mouth at the same time so the clinician can model the correct tongue placement for the client. The clinician can also see for the first time what is going on in the client's mouth. The Palatometer has been sold to clinics and universities around the world.

The Palatometer hardware and software package provides accurate real-time visual feedback of tongue-to-palate contact.

Who will I get to perform the therapy?

We can tell you who in your area is using the Palatometer. If not, we would be happy to work with an SLP of your choosing to help them get up to speed with this powerful tool.

What is the procedure for getting a custom SmartPalate?

The first step is to go to an orthodontist or dentist and have them take an impression of your upper palate. Orthodontists commonly take full upper palate impressions when orthodontic retainers are needed, so they may be more proficient than a dentist. However, dental technicians can produce excellent results as well. Once the impression has been taken, the technician will make a plaster stone model from the impression. This stone model will look just like your upper palate. If you have used a certified lab, they will send us your stone model. If not, you will need to use the self addressed packaging materials that came with your Palatometer system to send your stone model to us. Simply wrap the stone model in the supplied bubble wrap, box it up and drop it off at your local post office. Certified CompleteSpeech technicians will then manufacture your custom SmartPalate and ship it directly to you.

Who will benefit from using the Palatometer?

Persistent articulation errors – Typically placement is harder than manner of articulation. *

Hard of hearing/deaf – Both placement and manner is the hardest. *

Parkinson’s – Inadequate voicing and loudness of words and phrases; imprecise placement and manner.

Down Syndrome – Inconsistent place, manner and voicing of sounds due to mixed muscle tones in the mouth and possible mental retardation for slower learning process.

Cerebral Palsy – Low muscle tone, mixed muscle tones, weakness and degree of paralysis effects placement and manner of sounds.

Apraxia – For childhood apraxia the main issue is poor coordination of co-articulation of words, phrases and sentences that are not automatic.  For acquired apraxia, see TBI or stroke. *

Mental retardation – Inconsistent articulation errors and longer phonological processes linger (e.g., deleting final consonants).

TBI or stroke clients – Possible dysarthria, apraxia or both.

Mouth surgery clients *

Cleft Palate – After surgery, habitual articulation errors may persist and need to be corrected along with possible residual velopharyngeal closure issues.  The visual display of oral vs. nasal sounds will be of great benefit. *

Foreign speakers – Not feeling their habitual motor patterns that make the subtle difference needed to make new articulatory changes for the new speech sounds.

Stuttering – Tense articulators, tense voicing, un-coordinated breath supports while phonating.

* Represent actual cases where the CompleteSpeech Palatometer or similar EPG system has been used successfully.

R. Paul, (2007) Language Disorders and Infancy through Adolescence, 3rd edition. Shriberg and Kent, (2003), Clinical Phonetics, 3rd edition. Pena-Brooks, Adriana and Hegde, M.N. Assessment and Treatment of Articulation and Phonological Disorders in Children. Pro-ed, 2007, 2nd Edition.

Will I salivate more while wearing my SmartPalate?

You will notice an increase in saliva output. This is normal and will taper off over time. Simply keep paper towels handy during the first few sessions.