Objective:
To develop and assess the feasibility of Immersive VoiceSpace (IVS), a novel virtual reality (VR)–based platform designed to provide ecologically valid, context-specific voice training that integrates visual–spatial feedback with acoustic targets.
Methods:
Ten vocally healthy female adults completed an ecologically valid speech task—ordering a meal in a restaurant—across four conditions: baseline and three graded VR conditions (normal, effortful, calling) within a virtual restaurant environment. During each task, participants were prompted to call the waiter to the table and, once the waiter arrived, to order a drink, an appetizer, an entrée, and a dessert.
The IVS system modulated visuospatial parameters including listener distance, vocal-intensity threshold, and response timeout, while providing real-time feedback through an interactive waiter avatar. Sound pressure level (SPL) and mean fundamental frequency (f₀) were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Feasibility outcomes were obtained through post-session questionnaires assessing realism, comfort, and engagement.
Results:
SPL and f₀ increased systematically across conditions (p < 0.01), reflecting graded vocal adaptation to increasing visual–spatial demand. All participants completed the full protocol without adverse effects. No cybersickness, dizziness, or fatigue was reported. Participants described the VR environment as realistic, enjoyable, and easy to use. The IVS system functioned reliably, with consistent avatar responsiveness and rapid parameter adjustment.
Conclusions:
Immersive VoiceSpace demonstrated feasibility and functional validity as an innovative platform for contextualized voice training. By enabling precise manipulation of visual and acoustic cues, IVS operationalizes key motor learning principles within an immersive framework, supporting improved generalization of therapeutic skills to everyday communication. The system’s adaptability for home-based or remote use introduces new opportunities for extending therapy beyond the clinic and advancing evidence-based, technology-supported voice rehabilitation.