A wearable device has been developed to help stroke patients with dysarthria, a motor-speech disorder, communicate more naturally and fluently. The “intelligent throat” system, created by an international team of researchers, combines advanced sensors and artificial intelligence (AI) to process silent speech and emotional cues in real time.
The system integrates textile strain sensors and carotid pulse signal monitors with large language models for speech processing, translating silent speech into coherent, delay-free sentences while incorporating emotional and contextual nuances. Tested on five dysarthria patients, the system achieved a 4.2% word error rate and a 2.9% sentence error rate, significantly improving over existing silent speech systems.
The wearable features a choker embedded with graphene-based strain sensors, providing high sensitivity and comfort for daily use. LLM agents embedded in the system analyze speech tokens and emotional signals, refining and expanding sentences to match the user’s intended meaning. The personalized approach allows for dynamic, real-time expression, bridging the gap between patient communication needs and technological capabilities.
The researchers also envision broader applications, including support for other neurological conditions like ALS and Parkinson’s and the potential for multilingual adaptations. The team is now focusing on miniaturizing the device and integrating it into edge-computing frameworks for improved usability.
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