A feasibility study of using Kaspar, a humanoid robot for speech and language therapy for children with learning disabilities

Gabriella Lakatos; Marina Sarda Gou; Patrick Holthaus; Luke Wood; Sílvia Moros Espanol; Vicky Lichfield; Ben Robins; Farshid Amirabdollahian

doi:10.1109/RO-MAN57019.2023.10309615

A feasibility study of using Kaspar, a humanoid robot for speech and language therapy for children with learning disabilities

Gabriella Lakatos, Marina Sarda Gou, Patrick Holthaus, Luke Wood, Sílvia Moros Espanol, Vicky Lichfield, Ben Robins, Farshid Amirabdollahian

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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Abstract

The research presented in this paper investigates the feasibility of using humanoid robots like Kaspar as assistive tools in Speech, Language and Communication (SLC) therapy for children with learning disabilities. The study aims to answer two research questions: RQ1. Can a social robot be used to improve SLC skills of children with learning disabilities? RQ2. What is the measurable impact of interacting with a humanoid robot on children with learning disability and SLC needs? A co-creation approach was followed, three therapeutic educational games were developed and implemented on the Kaspar robot in collaboration with experienced SLC experts. Twenty children from two different special educational needs schools participated in the games in 9 sessions over a period of 3 weeks. Results showed significant improvement in participants’ SLC skills – i.e. language comprehension and production skills– over the intervention. Findings of this research affirms feasibility, suggesting that this type of robotic interaction is the right path to follow to help the children improve their SLC skills.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2023 32nd IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN)
Place of Publication	Busan, Korea, Republic of
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Pages	1233-1238
Number of pages	6
Edition	32
ISBN (Electronic)	979-8-3503-3670-2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/RO-MAN57019.2023.10309615
Publication status	Published - 13 Nov 2023
Event	32nd IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (IEEE RO-MAN 2023) - Busan, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Duration: 28 Aug 2023 → 31 Aug 2023 https://www.ro-man2023.org/main

Conference

Conference	32nd IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (IEEE RO-MAN 2023)
Abbreviated title	IEEE RO-MAN 2023
Country/Territory	Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
City	Busan
Period	28/08/23 → 31/08/23
Internet address	https://www.ro-man2023.org/main

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10.1109/RO-MAN57019.2023.10309615Licence: Unspecified

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© 2023 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works. This is the accepted manuscript version of a conference paper which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1109/RO-MAN57019.2023.10309615
Accepted author manuscript, 507 KBLicence: Unspecified

Cite this

Lakatos, G., Sarda Gou, M., Holthaus, P., Wood, L., Moros Espanol, S., Lichfield, V., Robins, B., & Amirabdollahian, F. (2023). A feasibility study of using Kaspar, a humanoid robot for speech and language therapy for children with learning disabilities. In 2023 32nd IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN) (32 ed., pp. 1233-1238). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). https://doi.org/10.1109/RO-MAN57019.2023.10309615

Lakatos, Gabriella ; Sarda Gou, Marina ; Holthaus, Patrick et al. / A feasibility study of using Kaspar, a humanoid robot for speech and language therapy for children with learning disabilities. 2023 32nd IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN). 32. ed. Busan, Korea, Republic of : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2023. pp. 1233-1238

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abstract = "The research presented in this paper investigates the feasibility of using humanoid robots like Kaspar as assistive tools in Speech, Language and Communication (SLC) therapy for children with learning disabilities. The study aims to answer two research questions: RQ1. Can a social robot be used to improve SLC skills of children with learning disabilities? RQ2. What is the measurable impact of interacting with a humanoid robot on children with learning disability and SLC needs? A co-creation approach was followed, three therapeutic educational games were developed and implemented on the Kaspar robot in collaboration with experienced SLC experts. Twenty children from two different special educational needs schools participated in the games in 9 sessions over a period of 3 weeks. Results showed significant improvement in participants{\textquoteright} SLC skills – i.e. language comprehension and production skills– over the intervention. Findings of this research affirms feasibility, suggesting that this type of robotic interaction is the right path to follow to help the children improve their SLC skills.",

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Lakatos, G, Sarda Gou, M, Holthaus, P , Wood, L , Moros Espanol, S, Lichfield, V, Robins, B & Amirabdollahian, F 2023, A feasibility study of using Kaspar, a humanoid robot for speech and language therapy for children with learning disabilities. in 2023 32nd IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN). 32 edn, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Busan, Korea, Republic of, pp. 1233-1238, 32nd IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (IEEE RO-MAN 2023) , Busan, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of, 28/08/23. https://doi.org/10.1109/RO-MAN57019.2023.10309615

A feasibility study of using Kaspar, a humanoid robot for speech and language therapy for children with learning disabilities. / Lakatos, Gabriella; Sarda Gou, Marina; Holthaus, Patrick et al.
2023 32nd IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN). 32. ed. Busan, Korea, Republic of: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2023. p. 1233-1238.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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AU - Moros Espanol, Sílvia

AU - Lichfield, Vicky

AU - Robins, Ben

AU - Amirabdollahian, Farshid

N1 - © 2023 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works. This is the accepted manuscript version of a conference paper which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1109/RO-MAN57019.2023.10309615

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N2 - The research presented in this paper investigates the feasibility of using humanoid robots like Kaspar as assistive tools in Speech, Language and Communication (SLC) therapy for children with learning disabilities. The study aims to answer two research questions: RQ1. Can a social robot be used to improve SLC skills of children with learning disabilities? RQ2. What is the measurable impact of interacting with a humanoid robot on children with learning disability and SLC needs? A co-creation approach was followed, three therapeutic educational games were developed and implemented on the Kaspar robot in collaboration with experienced SLC experts. Twenty children from two different special educational needs schools participated in the games in 9 sessions over a period of 3 weeks. Results showed significant improvement in participants’ SLC skills – i.e. language comprehension and production skills– over the intervention. Findings of this research affirms feasibility, suggesting that this type of robotic interaction is the right path to follow to help the children improve their SLC skills.

AB - The research presented in this paper investigates the feasibility of using humanoid robots like Kaspar as assistive tools in Speech, Language and Communication (SLC) therapy for children with learning disabilities. The study aims to answer two research questions: RQ1. Can a social robot be used to improve SLC skills of children with learning disabilities? RQ2. What is the measurable impact of interacting with a humanoid robot on children with learning disability and SLC needs? A co-creation approach was followed, three therapeutic educational games were developed and implemented on the Kaspar robot in collaboration with experienced SLC experts. Twenty children from two different special educational needs schools participated in the games in 9 sessions over a period of 3 weeks. Results showed significant improvement in participants’ SLC skills – i.e. language comprehension and production skills– over the intervention. Findings of this research affirms feasibility, suggesting that this type of robotic interaction is the right path to follow to help the children improve their SLC skills.

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Lakatos G, Sarda Gou M, Holthaus P , Wood L , Moros Espanol S, Lichfield V et al. A feasibility study of using Kaspar, a humanoid robot for speech and language therapy for children with learning disabilities. In 2023 32nd IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN). 32 ed. Busan, Korea, Republic of: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). 2023. p. 1233-1238 doi: 10.1109/RO-MAN57019.2023.10309615

A feasibility study of using Kaspar, a humanoid robot for speech and language therapy for children with learning disabilities

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