Restoring Speech to Stroke Patients Without Brain Implants

Stroke 

Scientists Develop Smart Device to Restore Speech to Stroke Patients

Researchers at the University of Cambridge in the UK have developed a new smart device called "Revoice" that could revolutionize the treatment of speech disorders in stroke patients. According to a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications, the device helps patients regain the ability to communicate naturally and fluently without the need for implants or brain surgery.

This innovation comes at a time when nearly half of all stroke patients suffer from speech disorders, most notably dysarthria. Dysarthria is a condition resulting from weakness in the facial, oral, and vocal cord muscles, making it difficult for patients to speak clearly despite being fully aware of what they want to say.

The "Revoice" device is worn as a flexible, lightweight collar around the neck. It is washable and designed for everyday use. The device relies on a set of highly sensitive sensors to detect subtle vibrations in the laryngeal muscles, in addition to measuring heart rate. This allows it to interpret bodily signals associated with speech and emotions.

These signals are processed by a dual artificial intelligence system: one reconstructs words from silent mouth movements, while the other interprets the emotional state and surrounding context, such as time or general circumstances, to transform short phrases into complete and expressive sentences in real time.

In a small clinical trial involving five patients with post-stroke dysarthria and ten healthy volunteers, the device achieved a low error rate of 4.2% at the word level and 2.9% at the sentence level. Participants also reported a 55% increase in satisfaction with their ability to communicate compared to traditional speech aids.

Unlike current technologies, which often rely on slow spelling, eye-tracking, or implanting brain electrodes, the device provides immediate and natural communication starting from just a few silently spoken words.

Restoring Speech to Stroke Patients Without Brain Implants

Stroke  

Professor Luigi Occhipinti, lead researcher in the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge, said that patients with dysarthria "know exactly what they want to say, but the signals between the brain and the larynx are disrupted after a stroke, causing immense frustration for them and their families." 

He added that the aim of the device is "to restore independence and dignity to the patient, as communication is a fundamental part of recovery."

Future Steps

The researchers plan to launch a larger clinical trial in Cambridge this year to evaluate the device's effectiveness in native English-speaking patients, while working on developing future multilingual versions capable of expressing a wider range of emotions. 

The team believes that the "Revoice" technology could potentially be applied to patients with Parkinson's and motor neuron diseases, making it one of the most promising innovations in the field of neurorehabilitation.