AI Solution for Stammering: Iyaso Launches ‘Eloquent’ Speech Therapy App

Pune-based startup Iyaso, founded in 2023 by Viraj Kulkarni, has launched its first AI-powered speech therapy app, ‘Eloquent’, aimed at helping people who stutter speak more fluently and confidently. The founder, who has personally experienced stammering, says the platform was built by combining his lived experience with his background in AI healthcare, with the goal of making speech therapy more accessible, affordable, and consistent for users worldwide.

The ‘Eloquent’ app is designed to help users practice fluent speech, build confidence, and handle real-life communication challenges. It blends modern artificial intelligence with well-established speech therapy techniques such as gentle onsets, rhythmic speech patterns, and breath control exercises. Unlike traditional therapy formats that often depend on fixed routines, the app adapts practice sessions based on user performance and progress.

According to Iyaso, early pilot studies of the app showed encouraging results. Users recorded an average reduction of 53 percent in stammering severity, while confidence in communication improved by 34 percent. The evaluation reportedly used recognised assessment tools such as the Stuttering Severity Instrument (SSI-4) and confidence-related measures, indicating an effort to track outcomes beyond anecdotal feedback, though the results are based on pilot-level data rather than large clinical trials.

Since its pilot launch in July 2024, Eloquent has reportedly reached more than 30,000 users across nearly 200 countries. The user base includes students, working professionals, parents, and speech therapists. To ensure regular engagement, the app incorporates gamification features such as levels, challenges, and rewards, making daily practice more engaging and reducing the drop-off commonly seen in speech therapy routines.

Iyaso has stated that its future plans include introducing the app in regional languages and expanding its technology to address other communication-related challenges. The company says its long-term vision is to help people with stammering overcome hesitation and make their voices heard globally through technology-driven solutions.

Apps aimed at addressing stammering have existed for several years, offering speech exercises, breathing techniques, and delayed auditory feedback tools. Popular platforms such as Stamurai, Speech Blubs, and DAF-based applications have been widely used, each focusing on specific aspects of speech improvement. In addition, AI-based English learning apps like Elsa Speak and TalkPal are increasingly being used by individuals to improve pronunciation through speech-to-text feedback.

What sets newer platforms like Eloquent apart, Iyaso claims, is their use of real-time AI feedback, real-life conversation simulations, and personalised practice flows. Instead of limiting users to generic drills, the app creates scenarios such as office meetings or everyday interactions, helping users transfer practice gains into real-world speaking situations.

Speech experts note that while speech therapy remains the gold standard for managing stammering often under the guidance of trained speech-language pathologists AI-driven apps can serve as a useful supplement. They are particularly valuable for users who lack access to regular therapy, prefer private practice, or need structured daily reinforcement. With continued refinement and clinical validation, such tools could play a growing role in speech care delivery.