Ultrax2020 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Ultrax2020: Ultrasound Technology for Optimising the Treatment of Speech Disorders
IRAS ID
235471
Contact name
Steve Renals
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Speech Sound Disorders (SSDs) are the most common communication impairment in childhood; 11% of eight year olds have SSDs ranging from problems with only one or two speech sounds to speech that even family members struggle to understand. Our programme of research aims to develop technology which will aid the assessment, diagnosis and eventual treatment of SSDs.
Currently in Speech and Language Therapy, technological support is sparse. Through our previous work in the Ultrax project we showed that by using ultrasound to image the tongue in real-time, children can rapidly learn to produce speech sounds which have previously seemed impossible for them. Through this project, we developed technology that enhances the ultrasound image of the tongue, making it clearer and easier to interpret. Ultrax2020 aims to take this work forward, by further developing the ultrasound tongue tracker into a tool for diagnosing specific types of SSDs. The ultimate goal of our research is that Ultrax2020 will be used by Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) to assess and diagnose SSDs automatically, leading to quicker, more targeted intervention.
Building on the work of the Ultrax project, where we developed a method of tracking ultrasound images of the tongue, Ultrax2020 aims to develop a method of classifying tongue shapes to form the basis of an automatic assessment and a way of measuring progress objectively. At the same time, we will evaluate the technology we develop as part of Ultrax2020 by partnering with NHS SLTs to collect a very large database of ultrasound from children with a wide variety of SSDs.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 01
REC reference
18/SS/0072
Date of REC Opinion
29 Jun 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion