Patent US 4,472,833

Apparatus and method for aiding speech wherein a signal is provided, representative of detected speech, and is monitored to determine if the speech rate exceeds a predetermined value. If so, then an indication is provided to the speaker. The speech detector can be a microphone (1,2) and the monitoring means (3) preferably drives the indication means in the form of a light source (4), an earphone (7), a meter (5), a loudspeaker (6) or a tactile element. The intensity of the warning indication may increase in proportion to the amount by which the predetermined value is exceeded.