People very often have problems speaking after suffering a stroke. Treating the condition known as aphasia is a tedious process, typically involving long spells of ambulant therapy with a speech pathologist. This is where a university spin-off from the University of Bremen’s Center for Computer Technologies (TZI) comes in: Expert help is at hand from Erik Düselder (computer scientist), Hagen Schwiebert (businessman), and speech pathologist Edyta Kaczynska. “With the aid of our software system called ‘Simply Talk’, people suffering from impaired speech can receive professional therapy anytime they want just by picking up their tablet PC and doing additional exercises. The unique feature here is special voice recognition software that helps patients actively improve their skills”, Hagen Schwiebert explains. “The basic task is a word-picture exercise where patients recognize the picture and then have to pronounce the matching word”.
Case studies confirm learning success
The prototype has already proved its worth in individual case studies. Scientific tests have also shown that patients suffering from impaired speech benefit from the increased frequency of therapy and that it leads to faster results. With their concept of “Simply Talk”, the start-up entrepreneurs have managed to persuade two public-sector “business angles” of their idea. The interdisciplinary team have secured start-up funding from the EXIST program run by the German Ministry for Economy and Energy as well as the Bremen Support program for business start-ups (BRUT).
Support from TZI
The TZI is also supporting the university spin-off in other ways. Professor Michael Lawo from the Artificial Intelligence Research Group is acting as mentor and accompanying the progress of “Simply Talk”. Moreover, the young entrepreneurs are able to use the TZI infrastructure in the form of equipment, project auditing, and secretarial services. In addition to this, there are also numerous linkage points with the work at TZI. Professor Lawo explains that “within the context of an EU project with the title Rehab@Home we are developing so-called serious games for motoric rehabilitation following strokes. In so doing, our researchers are working closely with practitioners at rehabilitation facilities in Austria and Italy. This type of networking can be of great help in the evaluation and marketing ‘Simply Talk’, as the people in these centers inevitably have to treat both patients with motoric impairments as well as speech difficulties.” “Simply Talk” is already the fifth spin-off enterprise from the TZI to be funded by the EXIST program.
Logopaedic practices also benefit
In addition to rehabilitation clinics, another main target group for the software system are logopaedic practices. “We can give them the tools with which they can expand their therapeutic services in a sustainable way, improve the efficacy of therapy, and set themselves apart from the competition”, says Erik Düselder. “Simply Talk” supports the work of speech therapists while keeping them at the center of therapy. Edyta Kaczynska points out “It is not our intention to replace the speech pathologist”. In future, speech therapists will have the planned web portal at their disposal to facilitate other functions, including a semi-automatic document administration system, patient scheduling, and prescription management. “This will put logopaedic practices in a position to optimize their internal work processes and also to attest to their activities by providing doctors and medical insurers with previously unavailable data”, explains speech therapist, Edyta Kaczynska.
If you would like to have more information on this topic, please contact:
University of Bremen
TZI Technologie-Zentrum Informatik und Informationstechnik
Knut Köstergarten
Phone: +49 421/3800353
mobil: +49 176/28059267