Talking with your brain: speech therapists provide feedback

At a rehabilitation center in Flanders, LiCalab organised two fascinating demo sessions. The team of speech therapists had the opportunity to try out the latest technology in the field of BCI (brain computer interface). Mindspeaker is developing an innovative communication assistant for people with speech problems.

What if you lose your voice, but your thoughts are still clear? For people with conditions such as ALS, MS or after a stroke, this is sometimes a harsh reality. Mindspeaker's new technology aims to change that. This portable communication aid helps people communicate via brainwave control and translates thoughts into speech via a tablet. A kind of “thinking is speaking”, in other words.  

The speech therapists had the opportunity to experience Mindspeaker for themselves. The participants were curious and critical and provided useful, practical feedback. Calibration, an essential part of the process whereby the system adjusts to the user, required some time and practice during this initial introduction. Nevertheless, the speech therapists also saw clear potential. Particularly, the artificial intelligence that can predict sentences based on keywords was well received.

The role of the speech therapist or caregiver remains crucial in setting up the system. The participants provided valuable tips for improving the training modules for the caregiver.

A second feedback session with an improved prototype went smoothly, and the participants noted remarkable improvements in the calibration process. This certainly benefits the user-friendliness. Based on their clinical expertise and experience, the speech therapists made additional suggestions that are very valuable to Mindspeaker, both in terms of design (colours and symbols used) and functions (pause button, saving settings data).

The prototype is evolving in a positive direction thanks to valuable feedback from the field. There is now more confidence to show Mindspeaker to patients with speech problems and to gather their experiences and advice. LiCalab is planning additional feedback sessions with patients. The findings from these sessions will further improve the development of Mindspeaker, enabling it to become a communication assistant that allows patients to live independently and with dignity for longer. 

Mindspeaker is a selected project within the Interreg Flanders – Netherlands CrossCare programme. LiCalab supports Mindspeaker in building bridges with end users through demonstration and co-creation. Mindspeaker is further developing its innovative solution based on feedback and ideas from therapists and patients. 

Questions? Get in touch with leen Broeckx via leen.broeckx@thomasmore.be.