Clinical validation of Voice Selector Study’s benefits for teenagers with ADHD - Tami Harel Audiologist and Speech Pathologist

June 17, 2024 Edtech

Voice Selector Study uses acoustic beamforming technology to give students control over what they hear – increasing their focus, concentration, and resistance to distractions.
Prior to launching the product, we carried out a clinical pilot study to assess just how significant these improvements are. It was led by Professor Iris Manor, chair of the Medical Association’s Attention Deficit Disorder Society and senior lecturer at the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University.
We wanted to be sure that the science behind our engineering is sound, and that our products genuinely help students with their studies.
And we were delighted that the study found a significant improvement in students’ focus during their lessons and in their ability to overcome distractions in the classroom.

How was the study set up?

The study focused on investigating the benefits of Voice Selector Study for adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with 31 teenagers aged 14-18 participating.
In the first study phase, the participants completed questionnaires to rate their typical learning experience. Next, they were asked to use Voice Selector Study at their school for five consecutive days. At the end of each day the participants filled out questionnaires and rated their learning experience with the device. Professor Manor then pulled together these findings to assess the impact of Voice Selector Study.

What did the study find?

The results of the study indicated a significant improvement in lesson performance when students used Voice Selector Study. It helped with their ability to focus attention on what is happening in lessons, overcome vocal distractions and background noises (from both inside and outside the classroom), and concentrate on the teacher’s explanations and instructions. There was also a marked improvement in behavioral metrics, suggesting a possible link between attentional abilities and classroom behavior.

Research results graph/ Credit: prof Iris Manor

Specifically, students reported an improvement in listening to instructions and guidelines and a decrease in the need to ask the teacher to repeat the instructions and explanations during the lesson.
It’s worth noting that due to school closures caused by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, some participants did not trial their devices for the full five consecutive days. However, there was no significant difference in the reported impact of Voice Selector Study between those who used it for five consecutive days and those who used it sporadically around their school attendance.

Voice Selector Study: For improved focus in the classroom

The results of the clinical study indicated a very significant improvement in students’ focus, and their ability to overcome auditory distractions and to understand the material being studied. You can read the full results of the study here.

Most pleasingly, the results also indicated a behavioral improvement, suggesting a correlation between the quality of attention in class and classroom behavior. It demonstrated the clear effectiveness of Voice Selector Study for teenagers with ADHD.

To the full research report