Implementation of a Generative AI-Powered Digital Interactive Platform for Clinical Language Therapy in Children with Language Delay: A Pilot Study

Early intervention is pivotal for optimizing neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with language delay, where increased language stimulation can optimize therapeutic outcomes. Extending speech-language therapy from clinical settings to the home is a promising strategy; however, practical barriers and a lack of scalable, customizable home-based models limit the implementation of this approach. The integration of AI-powered digital interactive tools could bridge this gap. This pilot feasibility study adopted a single-arm pre-post (before-after) design within a two-phase, mixed-methods framework to evaluate a generative AI-powered interactive platform supporting home-based language therapy in children with either idiopathic language delay or autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-related language impairment: two conditions known to involve heterogeneous developmental profiles. The participants received clinical language assessments and engaged in home-based training using AI-enhanced tablet software, and 2000 audio recordings were collected and analyzed to assess pre- and postintervention language abilities. A total of 22 children aged 2-12 years were recruited, with 19 completing both phases. Based on 6-week cumulative usage, participants were stratified with respect to hours of AI usage into Groups A (≤5 h, <i>n</i> = 5), B (5 < h ≤ 10, <i>n</i> = 5), C (10 < h ≤ 15, <i>n</i> = 4), and D (>15 h, <i>n</i> = 5). A threshold effect was observed: only Group D showed significant gains between baseline and postintervention, with total words (58→110, <i>p</i> = 0.043), characters (98→192, <i>p</i> = 0.043), type-token ratio (0.59→0.78, <i>p</i> = 0.043), nouns (34→56, <i>p</i> = 0.043), verbs (12→34, <i>p</i> = 0.043), and mean length of utterance (1.83→3.24, <i>p</i> = 0.043) all improving. No significant changes were found in Groups A to C. These findings indicate the positive impact of extended use on the development of language. Generative AI-powered digital interactive tools, when they are integrated into home-based language therapy programs, can significantly improve language outcomes in children who have language delay and ASD. This approach offers a scalable, cost-effective extension of clinical care to the home, demonstrating the potential to enhance therapy accessibility and long-term outcomes.