Artificial Intelligence and Computational Approaches in the Assessment and Treatment of Speech–Language Disorders

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to bring together cutting-edge interdisciplinary research at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), computational modeling, and speech–language pathology, with a focus on applications across the lifespan and across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts. As digital health technologies evolve, there is a growing need to explore how AI can enhance the assessment, monitoring, and treatment of speech and language disorders—from early childhood to older adulthood, and developmental conditions to acquired impairments.

We invite contributions from a broad range of fields, including but not limited to speech–language pathology, computer science, linguistics, cognitive neuroscience, rehabilitation sciences, human–computer interaction (HCI), and biomedical and health engineering. We especially encourage submissions that address equity, accessibility, and the ethical and policy implications of deploying AI in real-world clinical and educational settings.

This Special Issue seeks to highlight both the promise and the challenges of integrating AI and computational tools into practice, with an emphasis on

• Ethically grounded data collection and annotation;
• Explainable and transparent AI models;
• Inclusive and culturally responsive applications;
• Real-world usability and accessibility.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:

• AI-based diagnostic tools for developmental, acquired, and aging-related speech–language disorders.
• Automated speech recognition systems tailored for disordered or atypical speech.
• Deep learning models for identifying linguistic, acoustic, prosodic, and behavioral markers.
• Reinforcement learning and adaptive systems for personalized or precision therapy.
• Multimodal approaches integrating speech, language, emotion, motor behavior, and cognition.
• Computational modeling of typical and atypical speech, language, and reading development.
• Ethical, legal, and policy considerations in AI applications for healthcare and education.
• AI-driven systems to support augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
• Cross-linguistic, cross-cultural, and low-resource language applications of AI.
• Clinical decision support systems and therapist-facing AI-powered analytics.
• AI for universal design and inclusive communication tools.

Justification for the Special Issue

The rapid expansion of large-scale linguistic, clinical, and behavioral datasets, alongside advances in machine learning and natural language processing, offers transformative opportunities for the field of speech–language pathology. However, there remains a substantial gap between research innovation and clinical adoption. Many AI tools lack transparency, cultural adaptability, or real-world relevance, hindering their acceptance by clinicians, educators, and families.

This Special Issue will provide a platform to

• Showcase innovative applications of AI that are clinically meaningful, culturally inclusive, and ethically responsible.
• Critically examine the barriers to translating computational approaches into accessible and equitable care.
• Stimulate dialogue between researchers, clinicians, technologists, and policy makers.

We welcome diverse submission types, including original research, methodological innovations, theoretical perspectives, case studies, and critical reviews, that contribute to advancing the responsible integration of AI into the care and support of individuals with communication disorders.

Dr. Selçuk Güven
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• artificial intelligence
• speech–language pathology
• computational modeling
• personalized therapy
• explainable AI
• multilingual and cross-cultural applications
• clinical decision support