TAPAS — Training Network on Automatic Processing of PAthological Speech

Results in brief

Training Network on Automatic Processing of PAthological Speech

The TAPAS project is developing speech processing technologies to transform diagnosis, treatment and well-being of groups of people for whom spoken communication is extremely challenging. These include people with impairments in speech production (resulting in slurred and unintelligible speech, e.g. dysarthric speech), people with impairments in speech perception (e.g. due to hearing loss), and people with impaired language processing (e.g. due to reduced cognitive abilities). The field of speech processing has largely evolved from the perspective of typical speech (speech from healthy individuals with no impairment). As a consequence, existing methods and technologies are not well equipped to handle or are not robust to atypical speech resulting due to these impairments. As illustrated in the figure, through multi- and inter-disciplinary R&D lying at the intersection of speech processing, linguistics and clinical science, the project plans to: a) develop inexpensive and non-invasive tools for early diagnosis of conditions such as, dementia, depression, Parkinson's disease based on speech processing; b) develop automated personalized tools for rehabilitative therapy to recover speech function for groups of people having speech disorder. For instance, due to head and neck cancer surgery, dysarthria; and c) re-design current speech technology to work with people with speech impairments for assisted living and also to help in making informed clinical choices. In that context, the TAPAS network is training 15 early stage researchers (young researchers) equipped with multi- and inter-disciplinary skills lying at the cross-section of speech processing, clinical practice and industry.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

There are an increasing number of people across Europe with debilitating speech pathologies (e.g., due to stroke, Parkinson's, etc). These groups face communication problems that can lead to social exclusion. They are now being further marginalised by a new wave of speech technology that is increasingly woven into everyday life but which is not robust to atypical speech. TAPAS is proposing a programme of pathological speech research, that aims to transform the well-being of these people.The TAPAS work programme targets three key research problems:(a) Detection: We will develop speech processing techniques for early detection of conditions that impact on speech production. The outcomes will be cheap and non-invasive diagnostic tools that provide early warning of the onset of progressive conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.(b) Therapy: We will use newly-emerging speech processing techniques to produce automated speech therapy tools. These tools will make therapy more accessible and more individually targeted. Better therapy can increase the chances of recovering intelligible speech after traumatic events such a stroke or oral surgery. (c) Assisted Living: We will re-design current speech technology so that it works well for people with speech impairments and also helps in making informed clinical choices. People with speech impairments often have other co-occurring conditions making them reliant on carers. Speech-driven tools for assisted-living are a way to allow such people to live more independently.TAPAS adopts an inter-disciplinary and multi-sectorial approach. The consortium includes clinical practitioners, academic researchers and industrial partners, with expertise spanning speech engineering, linguistics and clinical science. All members have expertise in some element of pathological speech. This rich network will train a new generation of 15 researchers, equipping them with the skills and resources necessary for lasting success.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

FONDATION DE L'INSTITUT DE RECHERCHE IDIAP · MartignyCoordinatorSwitzerland
ASSOCIAZIONE ITALIANA PER L ASSISTENZA AGLI SPASTICI PROVINCIA DI BOLOGNA · BOLOGNAItaly
AUDEERING GMBH · GilchingGermany
CENTRE HOSPITALIER UNIVERSITAIRE DE TOULOUSE · TOULOUSE CEDEX 3France
EML SPEECH TECHNOLOGY GMBH · KarlsruheGermany
FRIEDRICH-ALEXANDER-UNIVERSITAET ERLANGEN-NUERNBERG · ErlangenGermany
INESC ID INSTITUTO DE ENGENHARIADE SISTEMAS E COMPUTADORES INVESTIGACAO E DESENVOLVIMENTO EM LISBOA · LisboaPortugal
INTERUNIVERSITAIR MICRO-ELECTRONICA CENTRUM · LeuvenBelgium
LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN · PlaneggGermany
MEDIZINISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN · WienAustria
Oxford Wave Research Ltd · OxfordUnited Kingdom
PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NEDERLAND BV · EindhovenNetherlands
PHILIPS ELECTRONICS UK LIMITED · GuildfordUnited Kingdom
STICHTING HET NEDERLANDS KANKER INSTITUUT-ANTONI VAN LEEUWENHOEK ZIEKENHUIS · AmsterdamNetherlands
STICHTING RADBOUD UNIVERSITEIT · NijmegenNetherlands
THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD · SHEFFIELDUnited Kingdom
Therapy Box Limited · HarrowUnited Kingdom
UNIVERSITAET AUGSBURG · AugsburgGermany
UNIVERSITAIR ZIEKENHUIS ANTWERPEN · EdegemBelgium
UNIVERSITE PAUL SABATIER TOULOUSE III · Toulouse Cedex 9France
WOLFF VON GUDENBERG THOMASGermany

TAPAS · Training Network on Automatic Processing of PAthological Speech

Results in brief

Training Network on Automatic Processing of PAthological Speech

Project objective

Participants

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