Good morning all from rainy Atlanta-

I have also contacted the company via email after hearing glowing remarks about the Audeo’s demonstration at the Les Turner ALS Nursing Symposium in September. Unfortunately, I haven’t received a reply either.

When asked about this device, I tell my pALS that it appears to be a work in progress and that I cannot recommend it until I try it myself! The company appears to be looking for interested patients to learn more about the device/try it out, so perhaps we should encourage them to contact the company directly.

Physiologically, I can’t quite wrap my mind around the idea that this equipment is functional for novel message generation as the videos on their website indicate. Definitely will have to use it to believe it and hopefully that will be in the near future.

Just my two cents-

Thanks

Kathleen Herrelko Kaminski, M.A., CCC-SLP

Speech Pathologist

The ALS Center at Emory University

1441 Clifton Rd, Suite R514

Atlanta, GA 30322

404.728.4555

404.712.5974 (fax)

From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Alisa Brownlee
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 10:55 AM
To: ALSA Listserv
Subject: [Assistive Technology] more info on previous email

The reason that I am asking the question about the Audeo is that information is flying through the internet and chat rooms that this technology is about to become available to the ALS market.

The intrepretation that PALS and families have is that they will think a thought and the Audeo will project that thought through the larynex and the sound will clearly come out.

Here is a quote from the company's web site:

The Audeo is being developed to create a human-computer interface for communication without the need of physical motor control or speech production. Using signal processing, unpronounced speech representing the thought of the mind can be translated from intercepted neurological signals.

By interfacing near the source of vocal production, the Audeo has the potential to restore communication to people who are unable to speak. The proposed solution is a featherweight wireless device resting over the vocal cords capable of transmitting neurological information from the brain. Using data analysis, this information can be processed into synthesized speech or a menu selection capable of conveying the basic necessities of human life.

Current Applications of the Audeo:

Speech – After a recent breakthrough, we have developed a method to exceed individual words and have shown the ability to produce continuous speech with high accuracy from the neurological signals.

I appreciate any help from the SLP's that are on this list!

Thanks,

Alisa

Alisa Brownlee, ATP
Clinical Manager, Assistive Technology Services
ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter

Assistive Technology Consultant, ALS Association, National Office

Direct Phone Number: 215-631-1877