Abstract: A control unit device and system is provided that allows a verbally handicapped person or normal young child to interact with a remote speech development computer system to assist in the development of verbal communications and cognitive skills. The electronic circuit of the control unit provides an interface to a standard telephone network that allows communications with the remote computer system. The remote computer system consists of a high quality speech synthesizer with a telephone interface, a personal computer, and a controlling software program that contains the speech development exercises. The control unit electronic circuit further provides audio reproduction of the synthesized voice of the remote computer, DTMF (dual tone multiple frequency) tone decoding to control output devices as commanded by the remote computer, and DTMF tone encoding to allow input devices to send signals to the program on the remote computer.