Edinburgh Masker

The Edinburgh Masker was a device used to control stuttering. It consisted of a microphone strapped across the throat near the larynx, the microphone plugged into a small box worn on the belt or in the pocket, and then earphones were plugged into the device. [ [http://www.aafp.org/afp/980501ap/lawrence.html Stuttering: A Brief Review] ]

The masker is an electronic aid to alleviating stammering. It generates a noise, random noise or white noise, which prevents the wearer from hearing the sound of his or her own voice. It is no longer made, and so is now only available second-hand. In contrast, an AAF (Altered Auditory Feedback) device may sometimes have the option to produce masking sound. [ [http://www.stammering.org/adther_electronicaids.html Electronic Aids:Altered Auditory Feedback and Other Devices] ]

The Edinburgh Masker (U.S. Pat. No. 3,566,858 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,032) electronically remove the sounds added by nasal and oral cavities, providing only a sound similar to laryngeal vibration. This device reduces or eliminates stuttering in about 90% of users [Dewar, Dewar, Austin, Brash. "Long Term Use of An Automatically Triggered Auditory Feedback Masking Device in the Treatment of Stammering." British Journal of Disorders of Communication, Vol. 14, No. 3]

ee also

*Stuttering
*Electronic fluency devices
*Delayed Auditory Feedback, or DAF

References