Abstract: Background: Developmental stuttering is associated with disruptions in temporal coordination, auditory-motor integration, and sensorimotor timing during speech production. Although auditory feedback has long been recognized as a central factor in speech fluency regulation, most traditional interventions have focused primarily on temporal manipulation of auditory input through delayed auditory feedback (DAF). The spatial organization of the auditory field during speech production remains comparatively underexplored as a therapeutic variable. Objective: The present study introduces the Virtual Acoustic Field (VAF) framework—defined as the systematic shaping of the auditory environment through spatial, temporal, and intensity-related parameters of sound—and investigates its application in a case of developmental stuttering. Methods: A 10-year-old boy with a four-year history of developmental stuttering received 16 sessions of real-time stereophonic 3D sound processing over eight weeks using a Behringer X Air XR12 digital mixer and Mixing Station software. Acoustic processing included stereo width modulation, micro-delays within the Haas-effect range (10–18 ms), subtle interaural time difference (ITD) and interaural level difference (ILD) adjustments, and controlled spatial cues. Overall system latency was approximately 0.8 ms. Speech samples were evaluated by two independent speech-language therapists (inter-rater reliability ICC = 0.89–0.92). Results: Following the intervention, disfluencies decreased by approximately 59% (from 14.2% to 5.8% during reading; from 16.1% to 8.5% during spontaneous speech). Block duration decreased by more than 60% (from 1.46–1.62 s to 0.52–0.71 s). Estimated pre-post effect size (Cohen's d) was approximately 1.8. Qualitative improvements included smoother speech initiation, reduced visible struggle behavior, and improved conversational continuity. Conclusions: Real-time spatial acoustic conditioning within a VAF framework may influence the perceptual organization of auditory feedback during speech and support temporal coordination in developmental stuttering, without requiring conscious behavioral compensation strategies. The findings are interpreted within current models of auditory-motor integration, predictive coding, and auditory scene analysis. Further controlled studies with larger samples, neurophysiological measurements, and long-term follow-up are warranted. Keywords: developmental stuttering; auditory-motor integration; spatial hearing; virtual acoustic field; altered auditory feedback; sensorimotor timing; binaural processing; interaural time difference; Haas effect. Title: Spatial Acoustic Conditioning within a Virtual Acoustic Field Framework in Developmental Stuttering: A Case Study with Review of Auditory-Motor Integration Mechanisms Author: Mitsiou Nikolaos, Mevouliotis Ioannis, Vaitsis Nikolaos International Journal of Novel Research in Healthcare and Nursing ISSN 2394-7330 Vol. 13, Issue 2, May 2026 - August 2026 Page No: 28-37 Novelty Journals Website: www.noveltyjournals.com Published Date: 26-May-2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20394221 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.noveltyjournals.com/upload/paper/Spatial%20Acoustic%20Conditioning%20within-26052026-3.pdf
Nikolaos et al. (Tue,) studied this question.