Speech-Based Diagnosis of Neurological Trauma

Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) such as concussions are arguably one of the most pressing concerns in sports today, with an estimated 2-4 million cases every year in youth sports alone. The potential short- and long-term impacts on the health and well-being of individuals with brain injuries are extensive. For example, individuals with mTBI may display a range of somatic, affective, and cognitive symptoms such as headaches, depression, loss of memory, and loss of brain function (collectively known as Post Concussion Syndrome). The effects of untreated concussions, e.g., leading to diseases such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (which has been tied to depression and suicide), an elevated incidence of Alzheimer Disease (and a reduced age of onset for Alzheimers), and dementia developing at a higher rate and a younger age. It is therefore imperative to accurately detect and appropriately treat mTBI, especially among adolescents, whose brains are still developing and more prone to long-term damage. This research aims to identify a novel biomarker that can only be extracted and utilized using modern computing and speech analysis technology. Prior research has provided evidence of a link between neurological functioning and acoustic features of the human voice, but these links are so subtle that they have been difficult to capture. Our findings will provide the foundation for a new generation of mTBI assessment tools utilizing advances in mobile technology and speech processing.