Cognitive Assessment Device Using Noise-Adaptive Speech Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting early cognitive impairment and dementia in elderly individuals are cumbersome, requiring face-to-face interactions in controlled environments, which are inefficient and prone to noise interference, leading to inaccurate speech recognition and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A cognitive ability assessment system utilizing a wearable device with noise removal and selective amplification functions, enabling linguistic and acoustic analysis of utterances in daily life environments, and a mobile terminal for convenient, efficient screening and assessment of cognitive decline.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If face-to-face interaction methods are used for cognitive assessment, then measurement precision may be maintained, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen due to requiring controlled environments and professional equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex medical assessment equipment and controlled environment requirements with a mobile terminal that uses standard microphone and speaker components. The system substitutes professional cognitive assessment tools with a smartphone or tablet application that delivers tasks through the device's built-in audio interface and collects responses via the same interface, eliminating the need for specialized equipment while maintaining assessment functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-administered cognitive assessments where users independently complete tasks without requiring professional administrators or controlled environments. The mobile terminal autonomously presents tasks, records responses, processes audio data, and generates assessment results, allowing users to perform cognitive screening in their own living spaces at any time
2Reliability
If controlled environment assessments are conducted, then noise interference is reduced, but productivity and ease of operation worsen due to requiring specific locations and scheduling
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary noise characterization by having users complete a calibration task in their actual assessment environment before the main cognitive assessment. The system analyzes the ambient noise profile during this calibration phase and uses this information to adjust noise tolerance thresholds and processing parameters for subsequent tasks, enabling accurate speech recognition adapted to each user's specific environment
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts noise tolerance and speech processing parameters based on real-time environmental conditions and user performance. Rather than requiring a fixed controlled environment, the system adapts its audio processing algorithms to accommodate varying noise levels, allowing assessments to proceed efficiently in diverse settings while maintaining reliability
3Measurement precision
If standard speech recognition is used without amplification, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision worsens due to inability to capture soft speech characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamic gain adjustment to amplify soft speech signals while preserving their original acoustic characteristics. By selectively increasing the amplitude of low-level speech components without distorting the temporal and spectral features, the system enables accurate detection of subtle speech patterns associated with cognitive impairment while using only the mobile terminal's standard microphone and processing capabilities
Data Source
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AI summary
Examples of the present disclosure can provide evaluation results regarding a user's cognitive ability in a simple manner through an analysis of the linguistic characteristics of the user's vocal data. Mild cognitive impairment or dementia of the user in daily life is easily detected through a convenient test so as to facilitate medical management from the early stages, whereby the quality of life for patients with degenerative brain diseases can be improved.