Speech analysis algorithmic system and method for objective evaluation and/or disease detection

Abstract

Systems and methods use patient speech samples as inputs, use subjective multi-point ratings by speech-language pathologists of multiple perceptual dimensions of patient speech samples as further inputs, and extract laboratory-implemented features from the patient speech samples. A predictive software model learns the relationship between speech acoustics and the subjective ratings of such speech obtained from speech-language pathologists, and is configured to apply this information to evaluate new speech samples. Outputs may include objective evaluation of the plurality of perceptual dimensions for new speech samples and/or evaluation of disease onset, disease progression, or disease treatment efficacy for a condition involving dysarthria as a symptom, utilizing the new speech samples.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A system for evaluating speech, the system comprising processor circuitry configured to:
 receive a signal comprising speech from an individual or representing speech from the individual;   extract a plurality of features useful for predicting a rating scale-based evaluation of a neurological condition affecting speech or language based on the signal; and   generate, using a predictive model, the evaluation of the neurological condition, wherein the predictive model is configured to generate the evaluation based on the plurality of features extracted from the signal.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor circuitry is further configured to determine, based on said evaluation, at least one of disease onset, disease progression, or disease treatment efficacy for the neurological condition affecting speech or language. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the neurological condition comprises dysarthria as a symptom. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system comprises a speech therapeutic device comprising audio input circuitry and stimulus circuitry, wherein the speech therapeutic device is configured to receive the signal comprising speech from the individual and provide a stimulus to the individual based on the evaluation of the rating scale. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the speech therapeutic device comprises a behind-the-ear device, an ear-mold device, a headset, a headband, a smartphone, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the predictive model is calibrated based on a plurality of expert ratings corresponding to a plurality of patient speech samples. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the evaluation comprises a plurality of perceptual dimensions comprising two or more of nasality, prosody, articulatory precision, vocal quality, or severity. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of features comprises one or more of envelope modulation spectrum, long-term average spectrum, spatio-temporal features, or dysphonia features. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of features useful for predicting the rating scale has no more than 50 features. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the evaluation comprises a multi-point evaluation. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor circuitry is further configured to prompt the individual to read displayed text prior to, or concurrently with, receipt of the signal comprising speech from the individual or representing speech from the individual. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of features are selected from laboratory-implemented features using cross-validation and sparsity-based feature selection. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a first graphical user interface configured to allow the individual to provide the signal comprising speech from the individual or representing speech from the individual; 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising a second graphical user interface configured to permit a speech-language pathologist or clinician to administer or review the speech. 
     
     
         25 . A computer-implemented method for evaluating speech in a system involving processor circuitry, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the processor circuitry, a signal comprising speech from an individual or representing speech from the individual;   extracting, by the processor circuitry, a plurality of features useful for predicting a rating scale-based evaluation of a neurological condition affecting speech or language from the signal; and   generating, by the processor circuitry, the rating scale-based evaluation of the neurological condition using a predictive model, wherein the predictive model is configured to generate the evaluation based on the plurality of features extracted from the signal.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising determining, based on said evaluation, at least one of disease onset, disease progression, or disease treatment efficacy for the neurological condition affecting speech or language. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising using a speech therapeutic device to receive the signal comprising speech from the individual and provide a stimulus to the individual based on the evaluation of the rating scale. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the predictive model is calibrated based on a plurality of expert ratings corresponding to a plurality of patient speech samples. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the evaluation of the rating scale comprises a multi-point evaluation. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising prompting the individual to read displayed text prior to, or concurrently with, receipt of the signal comprising speech from the individual or representing speech from the individual.