I have a little info to share with regard to Audeo Beta testing. I had hoped to wait until I could actually get my hands on the system but in the meantime, here?s what I know?

The caregiver of one of our nearly locked-in ALS patients recently contacted me about the system then set up a trial with Ambient. As they live about 3 hours from our center, my involvement thus far has been only via email and phone. Last week I listened in on a trial facilitated by their home health PT and Kimberly Beals. From what they are saying, as long as the user has some ?intent to speak?, the sensors (which are supposedly far more sensitive than the Impulse sensors) can pick up motor unit action potential (MUAP) in the laryngeal area. It is still very difficult for me to grasp but the patient who has the unit has apparently had some success. On command, he tries to talk or thinks about trying to talk and the sensors are able to detect enough MUAP to reach a threshold set within the software and interface with a PC to select a word, phrase or letter. At this point they?re only working on consistent yes/no selection but the PT thinks it has a lot of potential for this patient and others. If the trial continues to go well, I hope to see it live in the near future.

Time will tell?

Amy Wright

Speech-Language Pathologist

Carolinas Neuromuscular/ALS-MDA Center

(704) 355-0867

From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Alisa Brownlee
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 11:46 AM
To: AT National Listserv
Subject: [Assistive Technology] audeo alert

Alert for those subscribing to this listerv, my phone is already starting to ring about this article that appeared in the MDA magazine this week.

Speech Device Available for Free Trial
It reads muscle impulses to produce speech

by Alyssa Quintero

After rigorous testing and feedback from people with ALS, the Ambient Corp. has released the beta version of its Audeo speech system (pictured), which reads brain signals sent to the vocal cords and uses them to help produce speech.

Designed for people with ALS, the Audeo Beta Package (www.theaudeo.com) relays electrical impulses from the brain to a small laptop that converts the signals to speech. The system doesn?t read minds or give voice to random thoughts, but picks up muscle impulses created by conscious efforts to speak. (?Beta? refers to the fact that the product is still in development.)

Potential buyers must submit an application before a device can be shipped. Then, users can test it for two weeks before purchasing or returning it (no rental fee or deposit is required). Even if people return the device, Ambient relies on their feedback to improve the Audeo system and software.

The Audeo package ($5,000) includes the sensor and neckband, portable laptop with preloaded software and video tutorial. Users receive free hardware and software upgrades as they become available.

?It?s the most natural way that you would talk to somebody,? says Kimberly Beals, communications director for the Ambient Corp., which is based in Urbana, Ill. ?You?re using the same movements to talk that you did before ALS. You just have to figure out the best place for the sensor and how to get the best signal.?

To receive an in-depth Audeo guide and application, contact Beals at (217) 408-4085 or by e-mail at xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.

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